Revised Bloomfield crossover proposal saves post office parking

UPDATE: Motion approved.

Following public consultation, municipal staff have re-worked the Bloomfield crossover to be located approximately in its original location at the Corey Street intersection – avoiding the loss of parking spots at the post office.

Council, Tuesday night, is being asked to award the $125,000 contract to Drew Harrison Haulage Ltd. for completion next spring. The project has $177,000 in funding from the 2021 budget. Total project cost ($163,119) is within the capital budget allocated ($177,000).

Eighteen members of the public attended the afternoon information meeting held Nov. 8 at the Bloomfield Town Hall, and seven members of the public and three council members attended the evening meeting Nov. 10.

Staff report a common concern raised by the public was that the crossover was warranted due to the influx of tourists. It was noted that constructing the crossover at the post office location, compromises an important community resource – post office parking – for a tourist-driven installation.

Staff successfully shifted the location closer to the decommissioned Corey Street intersection – the location of the former Pinecrest Public School related crossover. The two parking stalls directly in front of the post office will remain as designated 15-minute parking only. Staff were informed vehicles frequently park for more than 15 minutes and this concern has been brought to the attention of bylaw enforcement.

“Through the public engagement process it became apparent that there exists very passionate support for both of the proposed locations,” stated Garrett Osborne, project manager, in his report to council. “The heavy majority of those that participated in the public engagement did agree with the need for a crossover
but there was a small group that would prefer to not see this project move forward.”

The feedback from those in favour of the Post Office location included:
– No loss of existing parking stalls (one stall shifted to east)
– Identify two parking stalls on south side of street as 15-minute parking only
– Provide a safe crossing location for the most congested area of downtown
– Close proximity to largest public parking area
– Close proximity to seniors from LoveSong Housing Development
– Close proximity to school bus drop-off location
– Close proximity to Quinte Transit drop-off location
– Maintains Town Hall loading zone

The feedback from those in favour of the Town Hall location included:
– No change to existing Post Office parking stall arrangement
– Will not hinder turning movements from Corey Street and Mill Street on to the Main Street
– Encourage pedestrians to move from the congested Corey Street/ Mill Street area to the west end of downtown core
– Expand the curb extensions (bump-out) to provide an opportunity for downtown beautification

Council also asked staff to report on legal opinion about whether the County assumes liability for a pedestrian accident on Bloomfield Main Street if a crossover is not constructed given its knowledge of the Jewell Engineering Warrant Study.

“The legal opinion was that the County may face some level of risk for not constructing a PXO but not an “unreasonable” amount of risk,” stated Osborne. “The County cannot shield itself from being named in a lawsuit in the event of a pedestrian accident and would then potentially be required to defend its decision on the PXO.”