2                                                 10 April 2017

HUTT CITY COUNCIL

 

Traffic Subcommittee

 

Report of a meeting held in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 30 Laings Road,

Lower Hutt on

 Monday 10 April 2017 commencing at 3.00pm

 

 

 PRESENT:                       Cr MJ Cousins (Chair)                Cr J Briggs     

                                           Cr S Edwards (from 3.04pm)     Cr T Lewis

                                           Cr L Sutton                                  Cr L Bridson

        

 

APOLOGIES:                  An apology was received from Cr G Barratt and from Cr S Edwards for lateness.

 

IN ATTENDANCE:        Mr Z Moodie, Traffic Engineer

                                           Mr S Leal, Traffic Engineer

Ms H Clegg, Minute Taker

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

 

1.       APOLOGIES 

resolved:   (Cr Cousins/Cr Briggs)                                   Minute No. TRS 17201

“That the apology received from Cr G Barratt, and the apology for lateness received from
Cr S Edwards, be accepted and leave of absence be granted.”

2.       PUBLIC COMMENT

Comments are recorded under the item to which they relate.      

 

Cr Edwards joined the meeting at 3.04pm.

3.       CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS

There were no conflict of interest declarations.

4.       Recommendations to Council - 23 May 2017

a)

Korokoro Road - Proposed No Stopping At All Times Restrictions (17/357)

 

Speaking under public comment, Mr Aaron Creighton a resident of Korokoro Road, agreed that the stretch of road was currently unsafe, adding that the 50km speed limit was too high given the number of blind corners, driveway accesses and parked cars in the area.  He further explained he was opposed to the current proposal, as it would mean the loss of several on-street carparks.  He advised that a number of properties did not have off-street parking, and relied on the area of the road to park cars.  He further advised that the public parking area at the bottom of Korokoro Road was not secure, and he had experienced car theft from there.   He believed a solution to the safety problem was to either widen the road, and/or install speed humps.

 

In response to questions from members, Mr Creighton confirmed he was opposed to the proposal, and that he was concerned pedestrian and traffic safety would be compromised by the proposal.  He agreed the proposal would make the situation safer outside some properties, but not for the road as a whole.  He further confirmed that if the speed limit was reduced in the area, and that if the road was part of the long term Substandard Road Upgrades, he would accept the current proposal.  He confirmed property numbers 16, 14 and 6 had no off-street parking, and that numbers 10 and 8 did.

 

The Traffic Engineer elaborated on the report.  He advised that initial investigations indicated widening this portion of Korokoro Road would cost in excess of $600,000.  He said that speed humps were not an option on hill roads.

 

In response to questions from members, the Traffic Engineer said he was unsure where Korokoro Road was listed on the Substandard Road Upgrades.  He noted that the area had safety concerns for both cars and pedestrians.  He advised that the most recent speed count showed vehicles were generally travelling under the speed limit at the bend.  He confirmed the proposal would result in the loss of a number of on-street carparks, and that if marked, there would be three parks in the existing layby.  If unmarked, residents would be able to fit four cars into the space.

 

In response to further questions from members, the Traffic Engineer confirmed that the only other location for on-street parking in the area was outside property number 18.  He advised ownership of the land outside number 18 Korokoro Road would need to be investigated, as would the cost of sealing or gravelling the land. 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED:   (Cr Cousins/Cr Sutton)             Minute No. TRS 17202

“That the Subcommittee recommends that Council:

(i)         approves the installation of No Stopping At All Times Restrictions in             Korokoro Road, Korokoro as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the             report; and

(ii)        requests officers to investigate alternative off road parking, for the             residents as close as possible to the area outlined in Appendix 1 attached to the       report as a temporary measure until the Substandard Road Programme begins for Korokoro Road.”

PRECEDENCE OF BUSINESS

In accordance with Standing Order 25.5, the Chair accorded precedence to item 4h) dealing with ‘Titoki Street – Proposed No Stopping At All Times Restrictions’.

The item is recorded in the order in which it is listed on the order paper.

b)

Randwick Road, Moera - Proposed P15 Parking, No Parking On Grass and No Stopping At All Times Restrictions  (16/152)

 

In response to questions from members, the Traffic Engineer explained the Sola Power Throwing Academy had not been specifically consulted with about the proposal, but had been consulted with in 2015.  He further explained that Council’s Traffic Bylaw prohibited cars parking on grass areas, and that the resource consent granted to Sola Throwing Academy provided for a maximum of two on-site carparks only.  He advised the site was very close to a busy intersection and that having cars parked along the relevant stretch of road presented a traffic safety issue.

 

RECOMMENDED:   (Cr Bridson/Cr Cousins)            Minute No. TRS 17203

“That the Subcommittee recommends that Council:

 

(i)        approves the installation of P15 Parking At All Times in Randwick Road, Moera as shown in Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii)       approves the installation of No Parking On Grass Restrictions in Randwick Road, Moera as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report;

(iii)      approves the installation of No Stopping At All Times Restrictions as shown in Appendix 1 attached to this report; and

(iv)      requests officers to monitor the parking situation and report back to the Traffic Subcommittee.”

 

c)

Randwick Crescent (Moera Carpark) - Proposed Mobility Park and No Stopping At All Times Restrictions (17/380)

 

In response to a question from a member, the Traffic Engineer advised that mobility access was required on either side of a mobility park, and that this sometimes required the car to be reversed into a park. 

 

recommended:    (Cr Lewis/Cr Briggs)                 Minute No. TRS 17204

“That the Subcommittee recommends that Council approves the installation of a Mobility Park and No Stopping At All Times Restrictions at the Moera Carpark, in Randwick Crescent, as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report.“

 

d)

The Esplanade (Petone Wharf) - Proposed P120 Parking Restrictions and No Stopping At All Times Restrictions (17/412)

 

In response to a question from a member, the Traffic Engineer confirmed there was unrestricted parking to the west of the Petone Wharf, and that it was only the area closest to Petone Wharf which was proposed to be restricted.

 

RECOMMENDED:    (Cr Lewis/Cr Sutton)                          Minute No. TRS 17205

“That the Subcommittee recommends that Council:

(i)        approves the installation of P120 Parking Restrictions in the Petone Wharf car parking area, on the Esplanade, Petone as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report; and

(ii)       approves the installation of No Stopping At All Times Restrictions in the Petone Wharf car parking area, on the Esplanade, Petone as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report.”

 

e)

Holyoake Crescent - Proposed Mobility Park and No Stopping At All Times Restrictions (17/359)

 

In response to questions from members, the Traffic Engineer advised that the Mobility Parks Schedule was reviewed every five years, and residents could at any time request a mobility park be installed or removed.  He did not consider the proposal would create a precedent, as each situation and request was assessed on its own merits.

 

recommended:    (Cr Edwards/Cr Briggs)          Minute No. TRS 17206

“That the Subcommittee recommends that Council:

(i)        approves the installation of a Mobility Park Restriction in Holyoake Crescent, Avalon as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report; and

(ii)       approves the installation of No Stopping At All Times Restrictions in Holyoake Crescent, Avalon as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report.”

 

f)

460 High Street - Proposed P15 Parking Restrictions (17/361)

 

In response to a question from a member, the Traffic Engineer reiterated that each request was assessed on its own merits.  He did not consider that the proposal would create a precedent.

 

RECOMMENDED:    (Cr Briggs/Cr Bridson)             Minute No. TRS 17207

“That the Subcommittee recommends that Council approves the replacement of three P60 Parking Restrictions with P15 Parking Restrictions outside Nº 460 High Street, Lower Hutt, as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report.”

 

g)

Taita Drive - Proposed No Stopping At All Times Restrictions (17/414)

 

The Traffic Engineer elaborated on the report.

 

RECOMMENDED:   (Cr Sutton/Cr Edwards)        Minute No. TRS 17208

“That the Subcommittee recommends that Council approves the installation of No Stopping At All Times Restrictions along Taita Drive as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report.”

 

h)

Titoki Street - Proposed No Stopping At All Times Restrictions (17/384)

 

Speaking under public comment, Ms Sandy Bellward, on behalf of the owners and residents of 7 Titoki Street, explained that it was necessary for them to have access to their property at all times, and that sometimes this was not currently possible.  She said the street was within the Tsunami Evacuation Zone, and that if cars were parked on both sides of the street, evacuation by vehicle may not be possible.  She stated that emergency services had difficulty negotiating the street, and that the rubbish truck did not enter the street.  She concluded that the residents of 7 Titoki Street supported the proposal.

In response to a question from a member, Ms Bellward confirmed the yellow lines proposed immediately opposite 7 Titoki Street were most important.

 

RECOMMENDED:    (Cr Cousins/Cr Briggs)         Minute No. TRS 17209

“That the Subcommittee recommends that Council approves the installation of No Stopping At All Times Restrictions in Titoki Street, Alicetown as shown in Appendix 1 attached to the report.”

5.       QUESTIONS   

          There were no questions.

 

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 3.40 pm.

 

 

 

 

Cr MJ Cousins

CHAIR

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMED as a true and correct record

Dated this 23rd day of May 2017