Clinic on Cochrane Road

Deschênes Councillor argues for parking limits

The decision to prohibit parking on the east side of Cochrane Road, between Aylmer Road and Holmes Street, has raised the ire of one of the developers of Carrefour santé Aylmer; but, according to Deschênes District Councillor Richard Bégin, the change had become a necessity.

“Since the new clinic opened at 362 Aylmer Road, many complaints were received from citizens and the clinic next door (where the new clinic’s clients had been parking). With vehicles parked on both sides of the street, it was difficult to clear the snow or for large fire trucks to get by. Thus, the city decided that parking on one side of Cochrane, up to Holmes, would be prohibited, which is reasonable in a residential area. This decision satisfies the neighbours even though their street has more traffic than before. It’s a compromise,” said Mr. Bégin.

The clinic itself has 30 parking spaces, but such a project requires double that, one of the developers told the Bulletin. He said he had tried to increase the number of spaces but that Gatineau, hoping to encourage public transportation, disagreed.

“A few years ago, with Aylmer Road a major public transport axis, the City decided to reduce its parking spaces as an incentive for people to use public transportation.  The same approach was used along other major axes in the city; one of the City’s objectives is to promote public transportation,” explained Mr. Bégin.

The developers had tried modifying the building’s layout to increase the parking spaces, but said this was impossible. The clinic’s zone (C-15-042) prevents any latitude.

“That zone is within Aylmer Road’s heritage corridor for which we established many years ago certain regulations to preserve the character of that corridor. In the case of zone C-15-042, the zoning grid indicates that the building should have been 15 metres from Aylmer Road. Clearly, the building is much closer to the road than the two adjacent buildings on either side.  It is also higher and more massive than the neighbouring buildings;  the zoning grid stipulates that the maximum should be three storeys with a maximum coverage of 100 square metres,” said Mr. Bégin.

 

The Deschênes Councillor agrees that the new clinic needs more parking spaces but he also believes that the City is not responsible for this situation.

“It is the developer’s responsibility to evaluate the number of parking spaces needed or allowed, and he should have brought this up with our services at the start.  He could have asked for a minor derogation to have more parking spaces on his lot, possibly opting for a multi-storey or partially underground site behind the building. He could also rent the extra 30 parking spaces he needs from the shopping centre in front of his clinic,” added Mr. Bégin.      (Transl.: CB)