Royal City residents with mobility issues may be able to park a little closer to home.
New Westminster city council has endorsed a draft policy that would allow residents with mobility issues to have a designated parking space in front of their homes, if it’s not feasible for them to have accessible parking on their property. The city’s access ability advisory committee proposed the change as a way of making single family neighbourhoods more accommodating to people with disabilities.
Coun. Patrick Johnstone said the policy will have a “modest” impact on neighbourhoods, but would make a huge difference for some people.
The city’s policy would outline who qualifies for the designated parking spaces and how the spaces would be managed. People would be required to apply for the spaces and provide a physician’s form documenting the need for a residential disabled parking space.
“Staff has developed a policy for designated disabled on-street parking spaces in residential neighbourhoods which will accommodate residents with mobility challenges,” stated a staff report. “While the demand is not expected to be high for these spaces, the policy will assist the city in responding to parking needs of residents with mobility challenges.”
