General Notice of A Public
Meeting
To Be Held
June 23rd 2008
Place: City of Waterloo, Council
Chambers, Ontario Canada
Time 6:30 P.M.
Phone 519 747-8549
(Waterloo, ON – February 27, 2008) –
Waterloo’s City Council recently directed staff to research the feasibility and
appropriateness of creating a new zoning by-law addressing the storage of
recreational vehicles (boats, trailers, snowmobiles, etc.) on residential
property. This request has come after Council received feedback from the
community concerning the safety and appearance of recreational vehicles parked
in neighbourhoods.
Currently, there are no Waterloo by-laws
in place that regulate the parking of recreational vehicles on residential
property within the City limits. And, while any vehicle, whether it’s a van, car
or a recreational vehicle, can’t be parked close to a road or sidewalk, where it
might obstruct traffic or the visibility of pedestrians or drivers, there are no
restrictions limited the parking of recreation vehicles on residential
driveways.
City staff have been wrestling with the
issue of how to best regulate parking in residential areas to preserve the
appearance and safety of neighbourhoods, while at the same time taking into
account the community members who may wish to have convenient access to their
recreational vehicles.
Waterloo wouldn’t be the first community
to institute a by-law that addresses the parking of recreational vehicles on
private residential property. Currently, the City is exploring the following
options:
• Maintain
the status quo and do nothing regarding a new bylaw.
• Allow
recreational vehicles to be stored in residentially zoned properties during
specific months (i.e., May 1st to November 1st).
• Prohibit
recreational vehicles year round in residential zones.
• Enforce
set back rules from property lines clarifying where a recreational vehicle could
be stored/parked.
• Limit
the size, height & weight of the recreational vehicle that can be stored in a
residential zone.
• Develop
clear definitions of what constitutes a recreational vehicle.
Staff at the City of Waterloo are
interested in obtaining input from the community on the best option for a
potential by-law. Staff research combined with the information collected
through community input will determine if a new by-law is put in place and what
the by-law will look like. The intention is to have this issue resolved before
the Spring of 2008.
For further information, please contact:
Louise Finlay, Planning Assistant
Development Services
519-747-8522
lfinlay@city.waterloo.on.ca
Louise Finlay
Planning Assistant/Municipal Heritage
Committee Co-ordinator
Development Services
City of Waterloo
519.747.8522
lfinlay@city.waterloo.on.ca