OSOYOOS TIMES-June 17, 2009
By Paul Everest – Osoyoos Times
The Town of Osoyoos is trying to take a tougher stance on unpermitted signage and boat trailer parking on the community’s roadways.
At its June 15 meeting, Osoyoos town council gave first, second and third readings to proposed changes to Osoyoos’s traffic bylaw.
If approved, the changes would allow the Town to remove unpermitted advertising signs from highway right of ways in Osoyoos.
The idea of removing unwanted signs from the roadside first came up last month and Town staff met with B.C. Transportation Ministry officials to make sure the local bylaw could be amended to give the Town authority to take such action.
The proposed changes to the traffic bylaw also deal with boat trailer parking.
If a ticket is handed out because a trailer was parked on a town street and the ticket was not responded to within 24 hours, the Town could tow the trailer.
The changes would also mean that motor homes would not be permitted to park on the street.
Under the amended bylaw, parking a boat or utility trailer, including a trailer attached to a vehicle, on any street in Osoyoos between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. would not be allowed.
Parking a motor home or trailer, including a trailer attached to a vehicle, on any street is also prohibited except in emergency situations, for the purposes of loading and unloading and, in the case of a motor home, except for a period not to exceed two hours while doing business in Town.
A new section is also proposed for the traffic bylaw which would ensure that certain portions of the policy can be enforced on highways 3 and 97.
Council also gave first, second and third reading to a proposal to amend the Municipal Ticket Information bylaw.
This was done so that offences outlined in the ticket information bylaw would match up to the corresponding section in the traffic bylaw should the proposed amendments be adopted.
Since the proposed changes would affect the ability of Osoyoos residents to store recreational vehicles on road right of ways in town, council urged the community to bring forth valid concerns about this proposal.
The public will be given a chance to have their say on this issue before final approval takes place during an upcoming council meeting.
Councillors and Town staff said adequate notice will be given, including advertisements in the Osoyoos Times, about when public input will be taken.
