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The Times-Advocate, 2002-10-30, Page 3By Scott Nixon TIMES-ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — McConnell Street residents aren’t happy about truck traffic and a proposed Queen’s Park parking lot on their street. And they’ve got a petition to prove it. The petition includes 32 signatures representing 95 per cent of the houses in the area, according to group spokesperson Lucio Odorico, who spoke at council’s Oct. 15 meeting. The neighbours object to Tim Horton’s using McConnell Street and Queen’s Park as a parking area for employees and customers. The group also wants McConnell Street between Alexander and Thames streets deemed a permanent ‘no truck zone’ and objects to proposed construction of a parking lot in Queen’s Park. Because of a hectic council agenda and the fact the meeting didn’t end until 11:30 p.m., council made no decision Oct. 15 on the complaints, but decided at a spe- cial meeting Oct. 17 to go ahead with the Queen’s Park parking lot and, instead of deeming McConnell a perma- nent ‘no truck’ zone, it will be a ‘no truck’ zone between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. to prevent large trucks from running at night in front of residences. The concerned group hired consultant Rick Hundey to look into the issue and Odorico presented Hundey’s report to council. Concerning truck parking and traffic on McConnell Street, Hundey’s report states according to the munici- pality’s official plan, McConnell “is a local street intend- ed primarily for local traffic and on which it is intended through traffic is to be minimized.” Hundey stated permitting truck traffic goes against municipal policy and causes congestion, safety, air quali- ty and esthetic problems for the neighbourhood. Prohibiting trucks on McConnell south of the Eric Campbell Ford Lincoln car dealership is a solution, the report states. Concerning parking for Tim Horton’s employees and customers, Hundey’s report states the 25 parking spots at Tim Horton’s are inadequate and there should be 39 spots. Three options to deal with the overflow problem are parking on side streets such as McConnell, building a parking lot in Queen’s Park or finding parking in near- by commercial zones. Hundey said business parking on McConnell is incon- sistent with the official plan’s intent on maintaining a quiet neighbourhood and minimizing traffic. Hundey states the new drive-through route at Tim Horton’s reduced the number of parking spaces at the restaurant by two. The zoning bylaw states “required commercial parking that cannot be provided on the same lot, may be located within 150 m in the same zone.” Hundey further explains the municipality has an obligation, according to the official plan, to try to locate business parking in the same zone, not in a residential area. Concerning the proposed parking lot on Queen’s Park, Hundey said it will primarily be used by Tim Horton’s through the day and business parking should be in a business zone, not in a residential zone. He concludes the congestion and parking overflow problem at Tim Horton’s is best solved by finding park- ing spaces in the commercial zone. Odorico asked council to consider the needs of the area’s residents. He said there are sometimes two to three large trucks parking in front of McConnell Street houses. Coun. Ken Oke asked Odorico if he would object to the proposed Queen’s Park parking lot if it was just for peo- ple who use the park. Odorico said he would not, but said he knows Tim Horton’s staff and customers will use it. Oke pointed out parking on McConnell Street is allowed, something operations manager Dennis Hockey confirmed. Coun. Pete Armstrong said such issues exist on many streets in Exeter and McConnell Street “is a public street so people are allowed to park on it.” Armstrong said one option would be to allow parking on only one side of the road, similar to several streets in Exeter. He added if council agreed to turn McConnell into a permanent ‘no truck’ zone, then every street in Exeter would demand the same treatment. “Then we might as well shut down the town,” Armstrong said. Odorico suggested Tim Horton’s staff park at the vacant valu-mart lot on Thames Road. He also said a Queen’s Park parking lot could be built on the Tim Horton’s side of the property, not on the side facing McConnell Street as proposed. Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin said it would be tough to enforce a permanent ‘no truck’ zone and asked Odorico how residents on the street would receive deliveries by truck if their street was in a ‘no truck’ zone. Morley said at the Oct. 17 meeting he is “totally against” a permanent ‘no truck zone’ for McConnell but made the motion to have the 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. ban on trucks, to prevent noisy trucks on the street at night. “I think (the residents) deserve to be able to sleep at night . . . I think we owe them that,” Morley said. Concerning the proposed Queen’s Park parking lot, both Urlin and Armstrong described it as a “win-win” situation because it prevents cars from parking on McConnell and provides the municipality with 10 park- ing spots. Other notes from South Huron council: Crossing location to change? Council had a lengthy discussion, without resolution, on whether to change the crossing guard route at Main and Sanders streets from the south side of Sanders to the north side. A report from Hockey indicated students will cross more safely on the north side due to the large volume of traffic from Sanders East turning left onto Main. Moving the crossing will impede traffic less. Hockey said his report was based on observations by the crossing guard, who has monitored the situation for a year. Council, though, wasn’t so sure moving the crossing to the north side would make it safer for school children. Urlin said if the move is made, children coming from south of Sanders will now have to cross three times: once at Sanders, then Main and then Sanders again to get to Precious Blood School. Urlin asked who would cross the students at Sanders. Coun. Joe Hogan said since Precious Blood is on the south side of Sanders, it makes sense to keep the cross- ing guard on that side. Oke said he would only agree to moving the crossing guard to the north side if she also crossed the students across Sanders. Hogan added the traffic light to cross Main Street only stays green for 10 seconds and should be increased to ease traffic congestion. Armstrong agreed, suggesting, another 15 seconds be added to the green light. Urlin said there has been a lot of construction at that corner due to the new library. Once that construction is done, traffic should ease. Morley wondered if moving the crossing from Sanders to John would be better since it would remove the chil- dren from the busy corner. Hockey said such a move wouldn’t be safe for the students because there are no traffic lights at John Street. Only two to 10 students cross at Main and Sanders every day. Council tabled the issue and will approach the Precious Blood parent’s association for input. Remembrance Service Morley will lay a wreath representing the municipality at the Exeter Legion’s Cenotaph Service Nov. 10. Wednesday, October 30, 2002 3Exeter Times–Advocate Take The NUTRAM SUPER PREMIUM PET FOOD Challenge Is your pet eating the best? We want you to try NUTRAM *FREE! Bring in an empty bag of your current DOG food and receive a 3.5 kg. NUTRAM SUPER PREMIUM DOG FOOD *FREE! NUTRAM SUPER PREMIUM CAT FOOD Bring in an empty bag of your current CAT food and receive a 1.8 kg. Are we crazy? No, Confident & here’s why: • Canadian owned and manufactured • Made with the freshest chicken proteins & fats • Naturally preserved with Vitamins E & C • Made in small batches to ensure freshness • 100% money back guarantee FEED CENTRE * One 3.5 kg Dog and 1.8 kg Cat maximum per household. Limited time offer *FREE! © © © © 131 Thames Road. W. (Hwy. 83) Exeter, Ontario N0M 1S3 (519) 235-1919 Product of Canada Product of Canada C.O.P.Corner (Community Oriented Policing) LETS LOOK AT HIGHWAY LIT- TER! Huron OPP says any person who throws, deposits or causes to be deposited any glass, nails, scraps of metal or any rubbish, refuse, waste or litter on, along or adja- cent to a highway, except in receptacles provided for that pur- pose, is guilty of the offence of lit- tering a highway. The fine is $110. I F YOU WANT A QUESTION ANSWERED, LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR JOANNE MORGAN AT 234-6605 OR E-MAIL SFORSTER@SOUTHHURON.COM. JOANNE MORGAN C.O.P. CORNER McConnell Street residents unhappy with traffic and parking Police Briefs ZURICH – Two Zurich businesses reported break-ins before 8 a.m. Oct. 22. Huron OPP report Erb’s Country Kitchen on Main St., Zurich had a door forced open and a quantity of alcohol and cash stolen. Plantations on Goshen St. was struck for the fourth time this year. The door was also forced open and the cash register and cupboards searched but there was no cash in the building. Nothing was found stolen. Anyone who can help in solving these break-ins is asked to call Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477(TIPS). LUCAN BIDDULPH – Sometime overnight Oct. 24-25, thieves entered an unlocked garage on Granton Line in Lucan Biddulph. Middlesex OPP report a 2001 red Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV, a 1991 blue and yellow Suzuki 80cc ATV, power tools, hand tools and beer were stolen. Anyone with information is asked to call Middlesex OPP or Crime Stoppers.