You can't miss the new automated speed camera at Newmarket resident Geoff Nugent's home on Srigley Street.
In neighbourhoods across town, the Town of Newmarket has installed 14 automated cameras near schools in preparation for the program's kickoff in a bid to crack down on speeders.
While Nugent said he supports the program, he has taken umbrage with the installation of the camera and its pole beside his driveway, in direct view from the front of his house, between his driveway and a hydro pole.
“It’s obviously an eyesore,” Nugent said. “It’s not helping my property value at all …I think the town could have done a better job of preparing people and deciding where this should go.”
The municipality activated the speeding cameras this week, and will be sending warning letters initially to speeders caught on camera before they send tickets once school is back in session in September.
Council approved the street locations of the cameras based on proximity to schools, with two going into each of the town’s seven wards. The exact locations of each camera on the street were decided on at the staff level.
Nugent said although he understands the area where the camera has been installed is town property, he feels the placement could have been better and less obstructive elsewhere on the boulevard.
He also said his house is closer to Sacred Heart Catholic High School, and it would have made more sense for the camera to go further down the street, closer to the elementary Prince Charles Public School.
“Everyone’s going to say, ‘Oh, you know, not in my backyard, no one wants it,’” Nugent said. “But I think there are better places.”
The town’s legislative services department said it made every effort to minimize disruption when deciding on the camera locations. Factors include proximity to stop signs, traffic light intersections, proximity to the start and end of community safety zones, road curves, elevations and line of sight for cameras.
The town also said it sent out letters to addresses within 50 meters of where the approximate locations of the cameras would be in March, with an all-household mailer also sent out at the beginning of August.
“In addition to other factors, the location on Srigley Street was selected to avoid drilling underneath the property owner’s driveway,” the municipality said. “This location was also selected to provide at least a minimum of 100 (metres) of space between the camera location and any signalized intersection or stop sign and to provide the camera the ability to be rotated toward eastbound traffic and westbound traffic, as required.”
Newmarket’s program started after York Region similarly piloted a speed camera program on regional roads. While York Region’s cameras do rotate every few months, Newmarket’s FAQ does not confirm if it will do the same, with cameras to be stationed at the 14 current locations “until further notice.”
Nugent added he supports the decision to put speed cameras in community safety zones.
“I’m not blaming the town. I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “I wouldn’t have had a problem, it’s just, it’s an ugly structure and obviously, I drew the short straw.”
