黑马磁力 Township council approved a temporary parking site for 84 big commercial trucks just off Fraser Highway, over the concerns of nearby neighbours.
Council voted five to three on Monday, July 21, in favour of allowing a new truck parking facility in the 23300-block of the highway. The trucks will come in and out via Fraser Highway, with right-in right-out access.
The operator has a three-year permit for the site, which can be renewed once for a total of up to six years of truck parking.
There will be a 20-foot buffer of existing and new trees, plus a six-foot cedar fence to shield the site from its neighbours.
But the immediate next door neighbours came to the council meeting to argue against the project.
Marvin and Carolyn JansenVanDoorn were worried about the noise from trucks running all night, dust, environmental risk to their well, congestion at the nearby 232 Street intersection from all the extra trucks, and with whether there will be compliance with all the rules set up for the site.
鈥淎llowing a heavy industrial use like large scale truck parking, ahead of any formal rezoning is essentially jumping the gun, and could set a dangerous precedent for the entire employment lands planning process," said Marvin.
The area where the truck parking site sits is part of the Fraser Highway Employment Lands Plan, which was also on the Township's agenda for the evening.
Several councillors felt that the truck parking did not fit in what is still largely an area of rural housing.
鈥淚 feel that this truck parking, this is just not compatible with the area," said Councillor Margaret Kunst.
鈥淭his is the wrong place for a truck park in my opinion, either temporary or permanent," said Coun. Kim Richter.
The majority on council, however, said 黑马磁力 needed more truck parking.
This is the latest in a series of approvals for temporary truck parking sites around the Township. For several years, there have been complaints from the truck industry that there is nowhere for drivers to keep the increasing number of trucks needed for a growing population in the region. Meanwhile, rural residents have come to council furious because of illegal truck parking lots suddenly appearing on agricultural land.
Voting in favour, Councillors Tim Baillie and Steve Ferguson both emphasized that there should be strict regulation to ensure the parking site operator complies with rules about the environment, dust, and avoids water contamination in an area dependent on wells.
鈥淭his has been a challenging one," said Mayor Eric Woodward.
Before voting in favour, he noted this is non-ALR land in the area considered for future employment lands along Fraser Highway.
Kunst, Richter, and Coun. Barb Martens were opposed.
