Council has given the yellow light to a decision banning big trucks from parking on a major route in town.
At its regular meeting Nov. 29, council agreed to postpone a decision of enforcing a parking ban on Highway 20A (51 Street) from 50th Avenue through to the alley north of 57th Avenue to be effective from Nov. 1 to April 30.
Last month, council posted an advertisement in the Rimbey Review giving notice council was considering a parking ban during the snow season.
CAO Tony Goode said the ban would mean snowplows would have more access and be able to keep the street free of snow.
However, council was not quick to endorse the proposal.
“I would like to see if there is another solution,” said Coun. Gayle Rondeel.
Several residents from Kansas Ridge Estates phase 2 signed a document that was sent to council stating they supported the bylaw.
Ken Pillman, vice-president of the Kansas Ridge Estates Association, said there have been problems with trucks parking in the area for many years.
“It’s worse in the wintertime,” he said. “Some of them start up at 4:30 or 5 a.m. And on 51 Street the exhaust comes right into the condos.”
However, a letter from Mary Leighton stated council needs to consider all vehicles, not just big trucks, if they want to put such a bylaw in place.
She said alternative parking needs to be put in place for big trucks.
“I cannot see why the town could not provide a place off-street for the heavy trucks to park, if the town doesn’t want them on the street. Alternatively, allow them to park at home and it will help the cars to get to ploughed roads when heavy snowfall occurs, as they will pack down the snow on the roads that aren’t going to see a plough for a long time.”
Council will address the issue at its Dec. 10 meeting.