A request from a resident for no parking signs on Luxstone Square has been denied by the Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC), according to TAC Chair and City of Airdrie Director of Community Infrastructure Lorne Stevens.
“TAC did give consideration to the roadway characteristics both on the collector roadway and the residential roadway, existing parking restrictions as they already exist through the Traffic Safety Act, commentary on the accident potential and also impacts of existing no parking signage,” he told city council at its Jan. 16 meeting.
Jason Gunn, who lives on Luxstone Square, brought his concern about congestion on a portion of the street to the Dec. 5, 2016 city council meeting. According to Gunn, when vehicles are parked on both sides of the street there is hardly enough room for two vehicles to drive through.
Stevens said TAC had reviewed the roadway and determined there is two metres set aside for parking on each side of the street as well as 2.5 metres per lane for two-way traffic. According to Stevens, this is sufficient for traffic to easily pass through.
The TAC review also looked at accident data for the intersection and determined there had been two accidents reported to the provincial database over the previous three years.
“Generally speaking, when TAC looks at residential parking requests we look at a number of different elements. In this particular case, we could not find a technical justification for a no parking sign,” Stevens said.
Planning revision
Council unanimously approved a request from the planning department to amend a bylaw regarding land use in stage one of the Chinook Gate residential community.
The change involves an area to the south of the community on both sides of Chinook Winds Garden SW. This area was originally zoned for single-detached homes and the request from the developer, Brookfield Homes, was to allow the construction of semi-detached homes.
“This change is supportable from a planning perspective for a couple of reasons. One is the difference between laned single-detached and laned semi-detached is pretty minor. It’s not going to affect the street dramatically. It’s not going to impact the development density dramatically,” said Karl Mielke, a City of Airdrie planner.
Debenture bylaw
Council gave first reading to a request from the city finance department for a debenture bylaw to fund development of 40 Avenue from Kingsview Boulevard to Highview Gate.
According to Palki Biswas, team leader of financial services, the $9.6 million project was approved by council through the 2017 budget process. The construction work will be funded through a combination of reserves and debentures. In response to a question from Mayor Peter Brown, Stevens said the work would include significant utility upgrades.
“One of the key drivers is that we’re extending water and sewer servicing through this corridor which will service additional lands in east Airdrie,” he said. “There’s also a high pressure gas line – those things have a cost. There is a major north-south drainage corridor that goes through here…there is a need to take this particular channel (underground). It’s a sizable channel and will take a sizable box culvert.”
Proclamations
Council unanimously approved a request to proclaim Jan. 28 as Arts Celebration and Recognition Day in Airdrie. The request was made by the Airdrie Mayor’s Night of the Arts Awards planning committee, which also asked that City Hall be illuminated in emerald green Jan. 27 and 28 to mark the event.
Council also approved a request from the Creative Airdrie Society to ratify a letter in support of its application for a Canada 150 Community Grant. The grant will be used to create a community mural which will be located permanently in a city facility.
