Hamilton lawn parking bylaw will likely exclude Ticats games

Hamilton councillors are looking at a new bylaw to prohibit parking on lawns, but it'll likely exclude the area surrounding the Hamilton Tiger-Cats stadium.

The draft bylaw would see a $150 fine for parking on front and side yards and boulevards, which is the area between the sidewalk and the curb.

But some councillors say that a one-size-fits-all approach won't work for Hamilton. They want lawn parking to continue around the former Ivor Wynne stadium.

Staff presented a draft at a planning committee meeting Tuesdaythat excludes the stadium area before and after Ticats games.

The draft "provides an exemption from Ottawa Street to Sanford Avenue, and from the escarpment to the CN rail tracks in the north," said Marty Hazell, director of parking and bylaw services.

That exemption would take effect four hours before and two hours after a Ticats game.

Staff will return in April with a report on neighbourhoods that might be exempt.

Lawn parking is mostly a problem around McMaster University in the west end and Mohawk College on the Mountain.

The new bylaw would make it easier for officers to write tickets for illegally parked cars. West-end residents would welcome that move, said Coun. Brian McHattie from Ward 1.

"It's been a frustrating experience over the past number of years."

In the west end, owners of what used to be single-family homes have converted them to student housing with as many as 15 students living there, McHattie said.

"I can tell you the people of Ainslee Wood/Westdale are extremely excited about the changes to this bylaw," he said.

Councillors discussed additional areas that should be exempt. Coun. Judi Partridge of Flamborough mentioned Waterdown during events such as the O Canada Ribfest and the Santa Claus parade. Coun. Brenda Johnson was concerned about the Winona Peach Fest.

Bylaw enforcement officers use a "common sense approach" to laying tickets, said Bill Young, director of municipal law enforcement.

"Our officers would speak to the people and try to resolve it that way. We're not going to go in and lay tickets on everybody."