Newmarket puts 30 minute parking limit on Main Street to support curbside pickup

Bylaw Officers will be enforcing new parking restrictions that will be in place as long as needed

Yorkregion.com
May 11, 2020
Aileen Zangouei

Newmarket has imposed a 30-minute maximum parking limit on Main Street to facilitate curbside pickup for delivery, starting May 9.

The town’s decision to temporarily amend the parking restriction on Main St. came about as the province begins to lift COVID-19 restrictions, retail stores with a street entrance can begin to provide curbside pickup and delivery starting May 11.

“We’re fortunate to have such great shops and restaurants right here on our Historic Main Street,” Mayor John Taylor, said. “But today, they operate in a unique environment. The 30-minute parking limit will support their curbside business opportunity and help our downtown through a very difficult time. We’ll continue to do all we can to make it easier for our community to safety support its local businesses.”

The 30-minute maximum parking restriction applies to the east and west side of Main St. from Water St. to Davis Dr., where there was used to be a two-hour limit.

Bylaw Officers will be enforcing these new parking restrictions to ensure spaces are available to both shoppers and businesses. Signs will be posted, and officers will be out educating residents about the change.

Repeat offenders can face fines starting at $40, the town said.

Residents who are on Main St. but are not using curbside delivery are asked to use other downtown parking spaces, such as the lot around Market Square, and east of Main St. around the Lion’s Club and Riverwalk Commons.

The curbside parking restrictions are outlined in the first Emergency Order enacted by Newmarket’s Mayor under authority delegated to him by Council to allow the Town to address situations in a timely manner.

Also, council passed an Emergency Measure Bylaw that gives the town flexibility to temporarily change and enforce bylaws to react to changing landscape due to coronavirus.

The curtsied parking restrictions will be in effect as long as needed, the town said, as limiting and stopping the spread of COVID-19 remains their top priority while also following Ontario’s lead to “cautiously” restart our economy.

The town encourages residents to shop locally while practising physical distancing.