Outremont mayor moves to eliminate free street parking

Outremont Mayor Philipe Tomlinsonis planning to change the way the borough manages its parking by making nearly all spots zoned for permit-holders.

As it stands, people can park for free on about 60per cent of the borough's streets. The rest of the spots are metered parking spots on streets such as Bernard Avenue.

Tomlinsonsaid Thursday that there will be one permit zone for the whole borough, and that a cap of two free hours will be put in placefor non-permit holders.

He said people who work in the area, but don't live there, will be able to buy permits on a daily or monthly basis.

Tomlinsonadded that there won't be any increase in the number of parking meters, but that this plan will bring in an extra $400,000 for the borough.

Drivers will begin to see signs going up in August, and the plan willofficially be in place by the end of October.

The money collected from permits will go toward green initiatives, such as improving infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, and caring for the borough's trees.