Should overnight, on-street parking be allowed year-round?
It already is in select pockets of the city, with most areas covered by a four-month prohibition. However, changes could be coming.
In a unanimously approved motion on Tuesday, city council directed staff to investigate “opportunities to remove” the restriction during an upcoming city-wide parking review, set for 2025.
“This is particularly important as we consider more density and more units in our low-density residential lots,” said Coun. Rodrigo Goller, who moved the motion. “I think we are creating a new hardship to residents, the way that we manage our winter control compared to other, neighbouring municipalities.”
As it stands now, overnight, on-street parking is banned from many streets between Dec. 1 and April 1 to allow for roadway snow clearing efforts, including pushing back snow banks so they don’t get in the way of emergency vehicles.
“In the case of this winter, I can count on one hand how many times we did a full residential plow-out,” said Coun. Dan Gibson, who seconded the motion. “I think it’s at least important we answer the questions because it’s being asked of us.”
“This is something we hear a lot about,” Coun. Carly Klassen added of the prohibition. “This has been a big problem for a number of years.”
