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Mount Doug trail parking ‘solution’ might take it to the street

There is “no easy solution” to supply more parking for an accessible Mount Doug Park trail near Glendenning Road, so creating five new street spaces may be the best way to go, say Saanich parks staff.
Map - Mount Douglas park

There is “no easy solution” to supply more parking for an accessible Mount Doug Park trail near Glendenning Road, so creating five new street spaces may be the best way to go, say Saanich parks staff.

That’s the $80,000 recommendation going to Saanich council Monday on an issue contentious enough to warrant extensive study since April.

Controversy arose last year after street parking was banned on a good chunk of the road. That move was made chiefly for public safety reasons to ensure access for fire trucks on the narrow road with many mature trees.

The trail is popular among people with mobility issues, parents with young children, and those who prefer to drive as close as possible to the Glendenning entrance.

“One of the options available to council is status quo, however, the lack of parking to this accessible trail will continue to be an issue,” the report said. That’s because there are only five spaces in the parking lot of the Glendenning entrance. Street parking on Glendenning was removed on the northern 500 metres closest to the park in August 2015.

Dave Poje, a leader in the campaign against the on-street parking ban, made without public input, has championed the Glendenning trail as “very special” for its gradual grade and much appreciated by seniors and people with mobility issues. A year ago, Poje sent an email to Mayor Richard Atwell among others saying that the issue of fire safety “continues to be a head-shaker,” given the limited time that overflow parking on Glendenning is used.

An online survey as part of the consultation taken by more than 700 people showed that 72 per cent of respondents did not want parkland used for additional vehicle parking. However, 76 per cent of respondents to an open house survey expressed support for additional on-street parking on Glendenning.

The traffic study undertaken by Urban Systems recommended parallel parking spaces with signs provided to indicate illegal parking.

“Recognizing there may be some concern from Glendenning residents regarding the re-instatement of parking, the maximum number of stalls that could be accommodated on the road would be limited to five,” staff recommended.

Almost 70 per cent of respondents to a summer survey about parking in all lots of Mount Douglas Park indicated they were very or somewhat satisfied with parking facilities.

Other findings:

• The majority of park visitors stay for under two hours.

• Weekdays were shown to be busiest in the evening.

• Weekends tended to be busiest in the early afternoon.

• Along with Glendenning, the 28 spaces within the Churchill lot were most likely to be at full capacity.

• Overall, parking lots in the park are at under 85 per cent occupancy.

kdedyna@timescolonist.com