Town of Osoyoos councillors are once again facing complaints about traffic flow on Jackpine Lane in the town’s east end. A neighbour complained to council in a letter about the number of vehicles driving near his property on nearby Maple Drive and would like to see the gate erected almost two years ago removed. Council voted last week to ask staff to prepare a report about the current situation on the roadway. (Keith Lacey photo)
Town of Osoyoos council is not willing to take down a gate that separates the east and west side of Jackpine Lane, but it will listen to any staff recommendations about slowing down and discouraging traffic on a section of the residential roadway.
A staff report says two different councils have addressed the issue of traffic flow on Jackpine Lane over the past three years and the process has included incremental changes from increased signage, installation of speed humps and the closure of the lane to drive through traffic by installation of a gate back in July of 2012.
The issue of traffic flow on Jackpine Lane was once again before members of the current town council last week after a property owner on Maple Drive sent a letter of complaint.
The homeowner’s name and address were not revealed during the meeting.
“I’m not comforted in writing to you, but at this time I see no alternative,” said the local resident. “You may be aware that approximately one-and-a-half years ago, the town decided to block off Jackpine Lane road and ever since we have endured a traffic nightmare.
“Apparently there was some kind of petition sent out to the homeowners at the east end of Jackpine Lane asking their opinion about blocking the road. Since our legal address is on Maple Drive, we were never consulted and now we are the ones payng the price for this decision. Since we were never consulted before the gate went in, I approached the municipal yard at the time and was assured there would be appropriate signage and monitoring of the traffic to ensure no issues would arise.
“Last summer on average, there were 40-50 cars a day coming down the lane and were using our private property parking lot as a turnaround. During the winter, the numbers are lesser, but it still occurs on a regular basis.”
A six-plex was built in this area in 1991 and access to parking was allocated off of Jackpine Lane and continues to be to this day, he wrote.
“The only difference now more than ever before, the pubic is using our private property as a turnaround and the problem is getting worse,” he said.
A moving van backs down the road several times each week and then turns around to get out of the laneway and on one occasion, a young boy was playing on the driveway in his private property and was almost hit by a truck backing up as it turned around in his parking lot, he said.
A local hotel owner is also erecting a new building to his establishment and people living in the area have been unable to get out of their driveways because of heavy traffic, he said.
“I honestly don’t believe it is incumbent on us to have to call the town each and every time to have someone come and open the gate so individuals can exit the laneway in a safe and efficient manner, he said.
He ended his letter saying his preferred solution to the problems is to take the gate down and open up all of Jackpine Lane once again.
If not, increased signage or erection of a chain link fence around his property to stop the turnaround issues would suffice, he said.
“We are looking for actual solutions, not excuses,” he said.
Coun. Michael Ryan said there are already numerous signs which clearly indicate Jackpine Lane isn’t designed for turnarounds or meant for drive through traffic.
He found it hard to believe 50 to 60 vehicles were accessing the west side of the laneway on a daily basis, said Ryan.
He would support getting neighbours together in a public forum to discuss the traffic issues on Jackepine Lane, said Ryan.
Mayor Stu Wells said he talked to the property owner who wrote the letter and said he was “very receptive” to any assistance council could offer to try and reduce traffic on the laneway.
Coun. C. J. Rhodes said he couldn’t support taking down the gate and opening the roadway once again, but he would be willing to listen to any suggestions staff may come up with to address his concerns.
“I think we need to hear from residents … and make decisions based on a collaborative effort,” he said. “The spirit of collaboration is the best tool for making decisions like this.”
Coun. Sue McKortoff said she wouldn’t support the idea of taking down the gate, but believes the town can take some additional steps to try and reduce and control traffic on the west side of the the road.
Council voted unanimously in favour of allowing senior administration to come up with a plan to try and address some of the concerns that still exist.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Town of Osoyoos councillors are once again facing complaints about traffic flow on Jackpine Lane in the town’s east end. A neighbour complained to council in a letter about the number of vehicles driving near his property on nearby Maple Drive and would like to see the gate erected almost two years ago removed. Council voted last week to ask staff to prepare a report about the current situation on the roadway. (Keith Lacey photo)
