Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 30/02) - The 'no parking' signs are coming down from the street in front of five of six Otto Drive homes.

But the last resident left with no on-street parking is vowing to continue his fight.

The Monday night decision comes a year after parking along part of Otto was banned when traffic patterns on Latham Island were changed and traffic along the narrow street doubled.

City engineers and the fire department had recommended that parking be banned in the area because the street is narrow and poses a risk to pedestrians and emergency vehicles trying to get through.

Despite that, councillors sided with residents and overturned the parking ban in front of all residences save the one owned by Wayne Guy. His property is near a new lane into Ndilo, and city regulations mandate no parking on either side of an intersection.

"In my mind, the issue is not resolved," said Guy. "If the city feels that they can't give me parking because the road's too narrow, then they'll just have to widen it. That's an issue that I'll pursue with them later."

Councillors Ben McDonald and Wendy Bisaro voted against the decision.

They argued that it opens the city to increased liability and sets a dangerous precedent by discarding portions of the Highway Traffic bylaw to serve the private interests of a few residents.

The decision came too late for Larry Adams, who lives at 22 Otto Drive. Fearing that he would no longer be able to park it on the street, he sold one of his vehicles.

Adams said council should have anticipated the problem.

"They missed it," he said.

"It was such a colossal waste of time," said Guy.