By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: March. 24, 2012
It’s a parking regulation that makes little sense, has no precedent, is unenforceable, and worst of all, it pitts neighbour against neighbour.
That is the view that Willow Village townhome residents take of a rule imposed on a trial basis by the district.
By this rule, only residents who live on Willow Crescent can park their cars along that road.
This effectively bans residents of Willow Village townhomes from parking their cars on Willow Crescent.
“This is so discriminatory. That is a public road, we pay taxes for it, and we should be allowed to park our vehicles out there,” said Jill Lee, a Willow Village resident.
Although these townhomes have a two-car garage, there are about 18 parking spaces in a subdivision that has 86 townhomes.
Jill Lee parks both her cars in the garage, but when she has to leave early for work, she parks on the road for fear of waking up her kids and the neighbours.
When she parked on Willow Crescent recently, someone left a note on the windshield reminding her of the new rule.
But not everyone has been as polite, the reidents say.
A few residents allege they have been verbally abused by Willow Crescent residents for parking their cars on the road.
The Squamish Reporter was unable to talk to residents on Willow Crescent.
“They (district) have simply turned neighbours against neighbours with this,” said Andrea Hockey, a Willow Village resident.
She said the bitterness was introduced last year when the district introduced the regulation on a trial basis.
The district sought their view, but never paid any heed to it, resident say.
Stewart Hughes said his wife, Carolyn Miller, spearheaded a letter-writing campaign and claim they went several times to meet Sam Skalsvik, the district official in charge of the regulation.
With no help coming from the district, Hughes says he and his wife decided to defy the regulation simply because it’s unfair.
“There are no permits for residents, so there is no way for them to enforce this. So, what’s the point of this bylaw?,” Hughes said.
There is a valid point for this parking regulation, district officials say.
Christie Smith, the district spokesperson said the parking regulations were imposed after area residents approached the district with parking concerns.
“After a successful trial period for the new parking situation, it was concluded this solution would ensure the best safety, security and functionality of the neighborhood,” she said.
As for precedence, she said this is a unique situation that enables the district to accommodate residents by regulating the East/West portion of Willow Crescent and opening parking on the North/South section of Willow Crescent to this area of the community.
The District of Squamish enforces parking violations upon complaint, she said. The district has not received further feedback from local residents since October of 2010, but it welcomes feedback on the issue.
Don Patrick says
Interesting… just why do people think the street is theirs ?? You buy property so you can live your lifestyle and that is where the toy’s should be stored. I do not think any street other than in commercial area’s or areas designed with parking spots should allow parking. Temporary parking (couple hours) should not be a problem in a residential area but there are people that think the front of their home out side of the property line is reserved for them and all their kids toys… hell we got kids living at home until they are seniors these days… (tilt)…, not very safe for walkers and kids. Please no parking on my street. Slashed tires are expensive.
Troy Lee says
Right now the residents of 9 homes on (the South side of) Willow Crescent have exclusive rights to park on the “East/West” Portion of Willow Crescent. These same homes have space for parking in the ally that is along the rear of their homes. They have a 1 or 2car garage and they have room to park at least 1 more car in the ally (most have room for 2 or more cars).
The Available parking on the “North/South” portions of Willow Crescent would accommodate roughly 20 cars, which the residents of Willow Village and Diamonds Head Apartments (approximately 160 residents) have to share with other neighbours and visitors.
I am a resident of Willow Village which is an 86 town house complex on the North side of Willow Crescent. I have a 2car garage (as a resident of Willow Village I’m not permitted to park in our “visitor parking”). However if I need to park my car on the street I should have the same entitlements as my neighbours.
Apart from the initial letter of the “trial basis” we have heard nothing further from the council regarding this parking change. My wife and other residents of Willow Village sent emails to express their concerns and again nothing was done to let us know that our concerns were being taken into consideration. No one I speak to in Willow Village can figure out how this could have been seen as fair by the the Council as the number of residents given the right to park on the street is so few. If it were Vancouver the residents of Willow Village would more likely have exclusive use as there are so many more residents living there and the 9 residents seem to have enough parking in the back. It all just seems terribly unfair.
I can’t figure out whether Don Patrick is for or against the parking regulations. No one is talking about storing “toys” on the road. Also banning parking altogether is another separate issue. The way I see it is, the the 9 residents have an exclusive right to park out of the front of their homes while the 86 residents on the other side of the street have none. The street is a public place and we all pay taxes for the construction and up-keep of the road. If parking is allowed then everyone has the right to park. No one should have exclusive rights to it, least of all 9 homes that I’m sure don’t pay nearly as much tax as 86, but may have friends in high places.
Please, no threats of slashing tires!
Don Patrick says
I guess as a senior person that feels priviledges are earned and if more are required they are purchaced… but rights are never assumed. If I was a resident of a Strata Type complex… I would have to agree to the rules set by the Council… but to assume because one pays a stipend amount included in strata fees gives one a right to park on a residential street for indefinite times… just does not seem correct. I am not against parking for short term on any street… On the other hand since my property is fee simple owned by myself.. really should not be getting involed. The owners of the properties around the streets will have to come up with a solution.
Steve Klassen says
What I’d like to hear about is what entails a “successful” trial period in the District’s opinion. From what I read in this article and hear in the complex, many people have put forward their views to the district yet the district seems to have no record of this. I don’t use the street parking so I’m not one of the immediately affected but to me it seems to entirely arbitrary how this ruling was determined. How about some transparency in the district? Details?
heather says
Good ol’ Squamish. I waited two and a half years to move to an unsecured open parking area at the side of our seniors’ complex. We are required to pay a small fee.
Beforehand, when I parked my car in the street in front of my Apt. I had two neighbours complain about my parking. Although they don’t have cars, they thought I was taking their visitors’ parking – who they believed should have taken priority in the street. The vandalism caused by skate-board kids allowed to roam the streets at night, cost my hundreds of dollars damage.
It seems odd that these residents would want to leave their cars unsecured. It appears that there is not sufficient parking in the area as a whole. because residents also have visitors – so back to municipal planning…….
Former resident of Willow crec says
I used to live on Willow for 7 years. I purchaced a home because I wanted my own space. I guess you could call it a life stye choice. Yes I had the choice to park in the front or back of my home. That is why I purchaced a home.
Now lets be real I’v read you replys, lets be honest Diamond head apartments has ample parking on the lot for there residents. Maybe you have to pay for it I’m not sure. But living in an apartment that is the choice you made. As far as Willow village goes, I used to walk through there regularly to make a point as an observer. I bet if you open 90% of your garages they are either full of crap, or are set up as extra living space. Is it fair and should the people that actually live there be inconvienced because of your lazyness or need for more space? Maybe you should research your surroundings more befor you choose to live in a townhouse, have some courtsey and respect for the people that actually live in the homes ajasent.