Parking issues.
Avalon Inn owner Phil Elliot has seen some close calls.
The motel owner is frustrated by the number of transport truck drivers stopping and parking in front of his motel while they dash across Main Street to get a coffee and donut.
Ever since Tim Hortons was built, the trucks have been parking here instead of going to the Husky [truck stop], Elliot said.
Elliot conceded that the stops are usually brief, between five and 15 minutes, but the frequency of the stops, coupled with the fact that the trucks have occasionally blocked off access to his driveway, has raised concerns. He also said the trucks block his motel's visibility.
I have witnessed and experienced some close calls when these trucks have been parked here. The biggest concern is safety, because cars pulling out of my parking lot have to nose out so far to be able to see around the trucks. I wouldn't be surprised to see a bad accident one of these days.rnElliot wrote to the mayor and council last spring, requesting the establishment of a no parking zone in front of the businesses on Main Street. Elliot has no issue with cars and trucks parked on the street, just the large transport trucks.
He noted one incident in particular when a vehicle turning in to the Avalon Inn parking lot narrowly avoided hitting a pedestrian with a small toddler because of the obstructed view.
The response last spring from the town's director of operational services was that they could not establish a no parking zone, although the Public Works Department did adjust the length of the yellow curb marking.
No one pays attention to the yellow curb markings. People continue to park illegally and the enforcement is just not there.rnElliot said he has resorted to parking his truck on the street in order to discourage transports and large motorhomes from parking in front of his motel, but the trucks continue to stop, sometimes double-parking when they can't get close to the curb.
The Town of Osoyoos' Director of Operational Services Ron Doucette said any parking issues are to be decided by council.
Mayor John Slater said he recognizes the problem but said a solution is not easy.
It is a huge issue, but unfortunately the Town of Osoyoos has absolutely no jurisdiction over parking and all the other issues on Highways 3 and 97 in our town, Slater said.
Safety issues are one thing, but we can't dictate that if you are shopping in one store you can't park in front of another one, unless you are parking illegally. It's a small town and we can't go chase these guys; they are still our customers.
Slater added the town will be changing its parking lengths from driveways to address concerns of safety.
Elliot said he doesn't know what to do next, and he doesn't want an accident to happen before something is done to resolve the situation.
In the meantime, he will continue to park his truck on Main Street.
My truck is out there to save lives. That's how I see it, said Elliot.
