Trucks will soon have more places to park in Brampton

Brampton is set to put in place new rules that will increase the number of spaces where truck drivers can park their vehicles.

A Brampton committee has recommended changing bylaws to allow the trucks to be parked in underutilized areas at industrial sites.

City council still has to approve the new regulations before they can go into effect.

The issue has been a long-standing one in Brampton, a city with a lot of truck drivers who haul goods to and from the many warehouses.

Drivers are often left scrambling, trying to find places to leave their vehicles when not in use.

Often they are stored anywhere that space can be found, including residential streets, public spaces and commercial lots. Residents have complained that the trucks are a nuisance as they take up too much space on streets, while the city says the illegal parking creates safety issues.

Currently, only trucks and trailers that operate out of a particular industrial area are allowed to park on-site. The proposed changes would eliminate that barrier and allow trucks not associated with the site to park.

A city report states there are several locations across the city where large parking lots sit almost empty that should not be utilized.

According to a city report, the proposed zoning bylaw amendment would help curb illegal parking by increasing the supply of available space; create a permanent solution over temporary sites and the development of illegal sites; and allow bylaw staff to concentrate on other enforcement issues.

The approach is also a practical one, the report implies, in that some industrial sites are already allowing trucks to park but are doing so in contravention of current bylaws that are essentially outdated.

The report also acknowledges that despite the illegal parking practices that exist, the trucking industry is an essential contributor to Brampton’s economy and finding a solution serves the interests of the community at large.