Enforcement of Unauthorized Sites

The creation of viable transport terminals and truck parking locations in appropriate locations that are safe and secure and that have minimal adverse impact on surrounding uses should be encouraged.

Enforcement protects investments made by operators that follow the zoning provisions and protects residents and other sensitive uses from the negative impacts of transport terminals. It is not expected that enforcement will monitor compliance of approved Transportation Terminals in perpetuity. Reactive enforcement gives unauthorized transport terminals time to comply with the regulations; otherwise, they will be shut down.

Where compliance with zoning provisions is not possible, property owners may seek a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment or an amendment to a Zoning By-law from City Council. Both processes allow the public to comment, require public meetings, and be appealed.

NO CHANGE: The current enforcement framework is appropriate in handling any complaints or non-compliance issues.

Truck Route Network

As mentioned under Traffic By-law 9148 in Part 2 - Background, trucks with a GVWR of 4,500 kg or more are restricted to streets identified as a truck route. Trucks are permitted on any street for the purpose of delivering, receiving, loading or unloading of goods, or proceeding to or from a premise for the storing or repair of such truck, provided the truck takes the shortest route to a truck route.

Staff occasionally receive a request to remove truck route classifications from certain streets. Recently, as part of the Drouillard Road traffic-calming project, the City received requests to remove the truck route classification from Drouillard, Richmond, and St. Luke. The truck route designation on that portion of Pillette Road between Tecumseh Road and Plymouth may be reconsidered as part of the traffic-calming project for that road.

Traffic Operations has raised concerns with the lack of truck routes in some parts of the City. They find that some truck detours for construction involve a significant distance of out-of-way travel when using alternative truck routes.

Transportation Planning indicates that a Truck Route Study is high priority item. The study would review the existing truck route network and recommend revisions. Matters such as the permitted locations of Transport Terminals would play a role in that review. It is anticipated that other policies such as the Complete Street Policy will feed into the Truck Route Study.

A pre-review process for Long Combination Vehicles (LCV) routes is another matter that Transportation Planning has brought up. No formal work has been done; however, Transportation Planning indicates there may be value in pre-determining appropriate LCV routes in areas that the City can support. This would assist logistic companies in that they would only need to review where the LCV vehicles turn off a ‘pre-reviewed’ LCV route. The pre-review would be conducted in accordance with the parameters set by MTO. Final approval of the LCV route would remain with Council.

ACTION 9: That Transportation Planning UPDATE the Truck Route network to consider existing and planned truck-intensive uses and establish appropriate criteria to review future requests for deletions, revisions, and additions to the truck route network.

ACTION 10: That Transportation Planning DEVELOP a review process to pre-determine appropriate Long Combination Vehicle routes that are consistent with Ontario Ministry of Transportation requirements.