A number of local residents are concerned about the growing crowds at Blue Mountains’ Council Beach.
“Yesterday afternoon there were close to 31 vehicles parked on the street and approximately 100 persons on the beach,” stated Town of Blue Mountains (TBM) residents Julie Green, Wendy Papernick, and Nancy Phillips in a letter to TBM council. “These numbers place the beach a great deal over its capacity.”
The letter, which is authored by all three women who live along Lakewood Drive, notes that on top of over-populating the area, visitors are leaving excessive garbage behind.
“There is clear disrespect and abuse of the grounds and community,” continued the letter.
Will Thomson, director of legal services for TBM says the town is aware of the issues taking place at Council Beach.
“We have now doubled our bylaw officer staff count for the summer,” Thomson said during Monday’s TBM council meeting. “Our ability to enforce these areas and ensure there is no overcrowding is now greatly improved.”
After holding consultations with area homeowners, TBM staff began installing additional signage to dissuade visitors from parking in illegal areas.
“Designated parking spot signs went up so that people know where they are allowed to park,” said TBM Mayor Alar Soever.
The town posted six signs bearing the town logo and the words "parking space."
Tim Hendry, director of communications and economic development for TBM said the signs that are currently posted at Council Beach are the same signs the town acquired for its paid parking pilot program.
However, Council Beach will not be a part of the parking pilot
“[The signs] were not installed for the purposes of the paid parking program. However, those are the same signs that will be used for the paid parking program,” says Hendry. “Right now, they are just serving a dual purpose.”
TBM will be initiating its paid parking pilot in early August at Lora Bay, Peasemarch, the Thornbury Harbour and Northwinds Beach.
Hendry says, going forward, once installed at Lora Bay, Peasemarch, the Thornbury Harbour and Northwinds Beach, each sign will be numbered to allow for easy correspondence with the payment application and website.
“More signs will be going up this week and it will be very clear that there are no parking, tow-away zones. This will alleviate the pressure on some of our beaches,” Soever said.
Soever and the town council also discussed the need to streamline communication from the bylaw department to council to ensure policy changes are in line with what officers are dealing with on the ground.
“I would like to hear from the frontline,” said TBM councillor Rob Sampson. “Perhaps, the bylaw department can canvas the bylaw officers and ask what they are seeing generally, and provide any suggestions they may have going forward.”
The town’s paid parking pilot is not expected to take effect until early August, however no parking and tow-away zones are now being enforced where signs have been posted.
