Written By Jan Sims
MIDDLESEX CENTRE - Middlesex Centre Ward 4 councillor, Sue Cates, is taking aim at parking regulations in the municipality. At its December 4th meeting, council considered a request by Cates that staff review current rules impacting residential parking including visitor parking and regulations for multi-family developments.
Cates said a lot of households have two cars and multi-unit developments are getting smaller. “Basically, the garage that’s counted as one of the parking spots becomes a shed,” said Cates “As you drive through some of these newer developments… you see cars are everywhere.”
Cates said she believes every unit should have two parking spots and that greater attention be paid to the amount of visitor parking that’s needed. “We have a lot of apartment buildings that have come in front of us recently, and what does that mean for visitor parking spaces to apartment buildings?,” asked Cates. Council unanimously supported Cates’ call for staff to study the issue.
Also at its December 4th meeting, Middlesex Centre Council shot down a request to support a resolution governing exotic animals in Ontario. The group World Animal Protection Canada has approached municipalities in its call for the provincial government to implement regulations restricting the possession, breeding and use of exotic wild animals.
The letter before council states that Ontario has more private wild animal keepers than any other province, and asserts the province hasn’t developed regulations impacting the possession, breeding or use of exotic animals in captivity. The letter goes on to cite concerns about animal welfare and public safety.
Ward 3 Councillor Hugh Aerts spoke against supporting the resolution, citing concerns about the group’s position on factory farming.
Council voted 3-2 against supporting the resolution.
