Allowing semi-trailer trucks to park on residential streets is one option considered by a city task force on where to overnight commercial rigs.
Of the alternatives proposed, and there are some sensible ones, this particular solution should be a non-starter.
Big rigs don’t belong in neighbourhoods.
Residential roads aren’t designed to accommodate them, both in terms of size, and traffic/pedstrian safety.
The majority of homeowners didn’t invest in their homes in residential areas with the anticipation of becoming commercial truck parking.
It’s not unreasonable to imagine a neighbourhood featuring a batch of big rigs parked along the streets, or in private driveways, is going to see a significant drop in real estate values.
Who wants to share a quiet street of homes with 18-wheel growling behemoths?
The Mayor’s Task Force on Commercial Truck Parking: Moving Forward, proposes a process whereby a truck owner would have to apply to the city for a development variance permit to park residentially.
The city would send a notification letter to the applicant’s “abutting” neighbours, who would have to support the application.
That terminology suggests adjoining properties only.
That means other neighbours, who don’t live next to the truck driver applicant, wouldn’t have a say.
Yet they would most certainly bear the impacts of such a policy.
Big rigs belong in industrial areas, or commercial developments designed specifically for the purpose of truck parking, as the task force report also proposes.
Neighbourhoods should be off-limits to semis, as they are now.
We expect the public will be voicing that position loud and clear at tonight’s public meeting.