Town makes permit parking cheaper in downtown Stouffville
Town council approved updated fees after feedback from pilot permit parking program

YorkRegion.com
Feb. 8, 2017
Ali Raza

It’s going to be cheaper to park downtown for permit holders.

Whitchurch-Stouffville town council approved changes to the permit parking program at a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

As recommended by town staff, updated fees were introduced for downtown commercial and arena parking lot permits and commercial business on-street permits (not on Main Street).

For downtown commercial and arena parking lot permits and commercial business on-street permits for daytime (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) a permit for one day costs $5, one week is $10, one month is $15, three months is $40, six months is $75 and the annual fee is $150.

Costs are the same for nighttime (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) permits.

Town staff gave council a status update on the permit parking program after the pilot was launched in November 2016. Suggestions were compiled by town staff, residents and the downtown Stouffville working group.

The permit parking program was organized by customer service manager Tamara Carlson and by-law manager Linda Mainprize. Mayor Justin Altmann thanked them both for their work.

But not everyone is content with the town’s decision.

One downtown business owner, Bob Boadway, told council the permit parking program is “taxing the downtown,” to which Councillor Rick Upton replied “we’re doing the opposite,” insisting that the permit program would help business owners and their customers.

“I will fight anyone on Main Street who says they will go out of business, they won’t,” Councillor Rob Hargrave said, reassuring concerned business owners.

While the 2017 fee structure mentioned above is effective July 1, when the pilot period ends, immediate changes include the addition of nine permit spots on Park Drive, an additional nine permit spots at the Clippers Complex and another nine at the Stouffville Arena. Commercial on-street day permits are for sale to accommodate downtown businesses.

Two permit parking spots will be added to the Edward Street parking lot and town staff will begin preparation for the expansion of municipal lots on Park Drive and 6240 Main St.

Permits are required for each vehicle, but are transferable. Not all parking spots in municipal lots will be used as permit parking spots.