Item - 2019.TE7.135

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Amended the parking prohibition in effect at all times on the south side of Spruce Street, between Parliament Street and a point 53.3 metres further east, to be in effect from Parliament Street to 21.5 metres east.
 

2. Amended the standing prohibition in effect at all times on the south side of Spruce Street, between a point 21.5 metres east of Parliament Street and a point 20 metres further east, to be in effect from a point 21.5 metres east of Parliament Street to a point 11.5 metres further east.
 

3. Prohibited parking except by permit from 12:01 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. daily on the south side of Spruce Street, from a point 33 metres east of Parliament Street to a point 32 metres further east.
 

4. Prohibited standing at all times on the south side of Spruce Street, between a point 65 metres east of Parliament Street and a point 5.5 metres further east.

In May 2019, I received a petition to amend parking regulations on the south side of Spruce Street, generally between Parliament Street and Rolston Avenue, to change a "No Standing" zone to match existing parking regulations in the area.

Spruce Street is a local road that permits 3-hour parking during the day, with permit parking in effect between 12:01 a.m. and 10 a.m. The south side of Spruce Street is signed "No Parking" in front of a portion of the commercial business at 1 Spruce Street and 433 Parliament Street, and "No Standing" for the remaining portion until Rolston Avenue, which includes boulevard parking spaces attached to 1 Spruce Street. The remainder of Spruce Street generally allows 3-hour parking during the day, and permit parking between 12:01 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Residents on the south side of Spruce Street have been concerned about two issues that they have been experiencing outside of their homes. Despite the area being signed as "No Standing," there are frequently vehicles using this stretch to park their vehicle for short periods of time. While parking enforcement has frequently attended, it has not discouraged this activity. When vehicles are not illegally parking or making deliveries, the relatively wide portion of this road has caused speeding concerns amongst residents, creating a safety concern. While not a focus of their petition, the resident's also acknowledge that this change would slightly expand permit parking in the 7–D area, which is typically at or near capacity.

Residents have provided a petition signed by every residential household that would be directly impacted by this parking change, which is 9 to 19 Spruce Street inclusive.  The petition specifically asks that the "No Standing" zone in front of homes on the south side of Spruce Street, specifically between 9 and 17 Spruce Street, be changed to permit 3-hour parking during the day, and overnight permit parking. This would align it with parking regulations on the rest of Spruce Street. "No Standing" regulations were maintained in front of 19 Spruce Street to permit trucks backing out of Exchange Lane to the north room to properly exit. The amendment would also not impact the existing "No Standing" regulation in front of the boulevard parking space attached to 1 Spruce Street.

Given the unanimous residential support and that this change would support the City's Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, I am requesting that the parking regulations be changed to reflect the wishes of the local residents who would be primarily impacted by this change.

Transportation Services has provided these recommendations, and have taken the opportunity to include housekeeping amendments to accurately reflect the existing signage outside of the portion west of 9 Spruce Street.