Stouffville reinstates 3-hour parking limit on all streets

Yorkregion.com
Simon Martin
Nov. 14, 2017

The parking program tinkering is continuing in Whitchurch-Stouffville after council made a series of changes to the parking bylaw, including the reinstatement of parking restrictions on residential streets Nov. 7

Council approved a series of changes after staff conducted a thorough public consultation on the state of parking in the municipality. Included in these changes is the reinstatement of three-hour parking limits on all streets and highways in the town, the offering of on-street parking exemptions for residents to allow for guests or driveway repair, and eliminating the on-street permit parking program.

“On-street parking was raised as a major concern for residents in the recent parking study,” said Linda Mainprize, municipal law enforcement manager for the town. “Returning to three-hour parking restrictions helps alleviate congestion and drivers using streets as their primary parking location.”

The parking bylaw says no vehicle in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville may park on any town street, road or highway for more than three hours except on portions of Church Street South, Dougherty Crescent, Miltrose Crescent, James Ratcliff Avenue and Brill Crescent.

“Town bylaw officers will now be ticketing vehicles parked longer than three hours on all other streets, effective immediately,” Mainprize said.

Council remains committed to finding a solution to the parking problem, but the best way forward is proving difficult. “It’s a no-win situation,” Ward 4 Coun. Rick Upton said. Ward 5 Coun. Iain Lovatt said, as a business owner, the town needs to come up with a way to limit confusion on the issue. The various versions of the bylaw during the past year have complicated the situation.

That was also the advice from the CAO Roman Martiuk who told council that it is imperative that everyone take the time to get the parking bylaw right before making any more changes.

Mainprize also reminded residents that there is no overnight parking on any street between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Dec. 1 through March 31.

The town is now offering on-street parking exemptions during the months of April through November. Residents are allowed 12 exemptions per year, per licence plate.

“If you are having guests over or need to park on a street because of driveway repairs, you can call the town and get an exemption” Mainprize said. “These exemptions are not meant for people to circumvent parking enforcement, therefore the number of exemptions must be limited and controlled to be effective.”

Effective Dec. 1, residents and business owners may purchase parking permits for selected spots in town-owned parking lots. Permits will be issued in one-day, one-week, one-month and six-month durations and be available for sale in the coming weeks.

Town council has eliminated all other parking permits within the town, including those for residential streets.

All the changes to the parking restrictions and the permit system will be in effect until the time a parking working group is formed. Council, earlier this year, authorized the formation of such a group to monitor and suggest recommendations to council about the parking situation in the municipality.