Background

The Town has experienced problems with tanker trucks carrying products having noxious odors, or carrying dangerous goods, parking in residential or commercial areas. There is particular concern about tanker trucks with explosive, flammable or combustible products parking overnight in front of hotels, or in residential areas, where they constitute a danger to larger numbers of people. Additionally, there have ongoing complaints about "noxious odor" trucks parking near restaurants or other eating establishments and affecting customer attendance.

The Traffic Control Bylaw provides that tanker trucks carrying noxious or dangerous products are prohibited from parking in a residential district or a commercial district. Residential district means all residential zones, and commercial district means all commercial core, commercial and tourist commercial zones, but does not mean service commercial or industrial zones.

Under Section 25 of the Fire Services Act and in addition to the Town's bylaw, the Local Assistant Fire Commissioner (the Fire Chief) has specific authority to "take the action he believes advisable" to remedy conditions which may seriously endanger life or property in or near a hotel or public building. The Fire Chief has used that authority to direct drivers of tanker trucks parked in front of hotels to move the trucks, and\or when he became aware a tanker truck is carrying particularly dangerous material. Most drivers responsible for carrying dangerous goods are professionals, understand the need for caution in populated areas, and are used to facing much more stringent rules than those in Fort Nelson.

Policy/Objective

The Town Council recognizes that the area's industrial base is the community's "reason for being" and that most tanker trucks are associated with the work of that industrial base. They wish to achieve a balance between the concerns for public health & safety and the complaints of other consumers, with the need for industry to do its business in an efficient manner & without unnecessary interference from local government.

Therefore, while the Traffic Control Bylaw does prohibit the parking of tanker trucks in all of the areas outlined above:

(1) it is the Council's policy that those areas noted below are specifically prohibited to tanker truck parking, and offence of that prohibition will be handled under the Traffic Control Bylaw promptly upon a designated bylaw enforcement officer (including an RCMP Officer and the Fire Chief) becoming aware of the offence, and by the Fire Chief as the LAFC under the Fire Services Act where he deems it advisable.

(2) In all other instances, a designated bylaw enforcement officer (including an RCMP Officer and the Fire Chief) will be expected to take action to handle such tanker truck parking offences under the Traffic Control Bylaw only where a complaint about the offence has been received.

Implementation

The following areas are designated as specifically prohibited from tanker truck parking:

The Trapline Inn Area:

the area fronting the Trapline Inn property on 50 Avenue South

The A & W Restaurant and Dan's Neighbourhood Pub Area:

The Public Works Director of Operations is authorized to cause to be placed such "Tanker Truck Parking Prohibited" signs in the designated prohibited areas in the commercial district as may be required to give effect to this policy and to the Traffic Control Bylaw.