Cranberry ratepayers have requested traffic pattern changes and lake enhancements from the City of Powell River.
Rolland Miller, chair of Cranberry Ratepayers’ Association, brought four concerns to City of Powell River’s committee of the whole, on Thursday, June 19, 2014.
Miller said it has become evident the improvements in the Cranberry commercial area have made the area a lot more alive than it used to be, with Cranberry Street becoming busier.
“What we are concerned about in that area is the car speeds from DA Evans Park,” he said. “ If you are coming from the ocean into the Cranberry commercial area, the speed through the park is 30 km/h and at the end of the park it jumps to 50 km/h.
“What we are suggesting is it be changed to 40 km/h until we get past Mitchell Brothers on Manson Avenue.”
The establishment of Magpie’s Diner on Cranberry Street has created traffic congestion, with cars parking on both sides of the street, Miller said. On the corner of Cranberry and Manson Avenue is the seniors’ centre, which is busy and very well used.
The second recommendation was to install a three-way stop sign at Cranberry Street and Marlatt Avenue to slow traffic past Lindsay Park.
“Many trucks and cars are going past there at 50, 60, 70 or even 80 km/h,” Miller said. “People are just roaring across there, which is quite unbelievable. We are suggesting a three-way stop at Cranberry and Marlatt.” The hope would be that the stop sign would slow traffic.
The third request was for a fishing float in Cranberry Lake off Park Avenue.
The fourth was for opening up the Cranberry Lake lakefront at Gilbert and Tatlow streets.
Miller said both Gilbert and Tatlow streets go right down to the lake and with a couple of hours of work, removing some vegetation, branches and small trees, the project would create two nice spots by the lake. Right now the only access is at Lindsay Park, he said.
He added the ratepayers would take care of the work if the city did not want to do it.
Councillor Chris McNaughton said there are a number of floats from the old north harbour still around the city that could possibly be allocated for Cranberry Lake.
Councillor Jim Palm said he has attended Cranberry ratepayers’ meeting and had become aware of four trees at Cassiar Street and Manson Avenue causing visual and access problems. Trucks are cutting around the corner coming around Manson Avenue, putting citizens at risk when the corner is cut too sharply, Palm said.
Councillor Debbie Dee said would like city staff to report on each of these subjects. Also regarding Cranberry issues, she said revisiting one-way traffic around the back of Cranberry Lake is a matter which could be revisited.
