Calgary might allow culs-de-sac angle parking on a case-by-case basis

Calgary has found a possible solution for a parking dispute that has divided some communities whether or not angle parking should be allowed on culs-de-sac.

Currently, a little-known bylaw forbids angle parking on culs-de-sac. The Calgary Parking Authority doesn't patrol streets looking for people breaking the rules, but it does respond to complaints.

In 2017, the agency responded to 249 calls for parking concerns in culs-de-sacwhich resulted in 72 tickets for people who failed to parallel park against the curb, or0.02 per cent of the total 336,463 parking tickets issued last year.

In 2016, the city got 160 complaints.

• Calgary councillor has possible solution to cul-de-sac parking woes

"It's these funny little traffic rules that get in the way of doing things and cause grief between neighbours," said Coun. Shane Keating.

Now, a council committee has approved a motion that allows residents to ask the city for permission to park at an angle on their cul-de-sac with each case beingindividuallyassessed.

"They would come in and pay a small [$70] fee at the beginning to have the cul-de-sac assessed to see if it's a possibility. And then they would look at the options that would allow it," Keating said.

He said residents on each cul-de-sac that want the change will have to come up with solutions and rules for example, not allowing parking on garbage pickup days, or ensuring there's enough room for emergency vehicles.

Once the parking change is approved for the block, neighbours will have to pony up a collective $2,300 to erect new signage and paint lines on the street.

Keating said the problem with the old rule was that it would often cause "turf wars" between neighbours, who would only report each other's unlawful parking if they were in a dispute.

"We did have a flurry of residents phoning in and complaining," he said.

There are approximately 2,500 culs-de-sac in Calgary.

New rule is inefficient, says Gondek

Coun. Jyoti Gondekwas the sole vote against the motion. She said she's concerned evaluating each blockindividually is inefficient.

"Having requests come in to see if we can accommodate angle parking in a cul-de-sac seems like a giant waste of time," Gondek said.

The transportation committee endorsed the change Thursday, but it will still require final council approval.

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