Grey Highlands council is going to look at the possibility of having time limited parking in its downtown commercial cores.
At a recent meeting, council unanimously approved a resolution from Coun. Joel Loughead that will see the municipality examine the feasibility of introducing parking time limits in downtown areas like Flesherton and Markdale.
The parking issue was a topic of conversation at the meeting with Loughead’s resolution on the agenda, along with a letter from a Flesherton business owner Gary Ikona expressing concerns about the loss of parking in Flesherton after the recent work on the Highway 10 connecting link was completed.
Loughead said he has heard increasing concerns and complaints from business owners about the small number of parking spots in Flesherton being taken up all day by local residents or employees.
“There are urgent calls for relief from this,” said Loughead, adding that fixing the problem would be a benefit to everybody. “It would free up spots for shoppers and increase economic activity.”
Loughead’s resolution asked for a staff report about options for time-limited parking in the downtown commercial areas.
Parking in Flesherton was raised earlier in the meeting, when Coun. Nadia Dubyk lifted a letter from Ikona about the issue from the consent agenda for discussion.
“We did receive some comments from business owners in the Flesherton area about opportunities to optimize parking for folks to stop and shop in Flesherton,” said Dubyk.
Chris Cornfield, director of transportation and public safety, said parking in Flesherton has been an issue for years and he said there is no fast answer for the problem.
“There is no quick and easy solution,” said Cornfield. “It is a challenge.”
Loughead said if something like a three-hour limit was introduced to the downtown areas, parking could be freed up.
“I think it’s a great idea, but how would we enforce it?” Deputy Mayor Dane Nielsen asked.
Cornfield said he would bring a fresh report back to council on parking that would take a look at past reports about the matter as well as how enforcement would be handled should council agree to a time limit for parking.
