Saint John crackdown on parking lots unfair says developer

The City of Saint John was in court this week, layingcharges against what it says areillegal parking lots in uptown Saint John.

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PaulDaeresand his two children, whoown three of thelots,were charged, which Daeres says is "unfair and ridiculous."

Daeressays hepays property tax for the lots and,despite what the city says,claims all but one are zoned correctly.

He acknowledgesone lot onGermainStreetis not properly zoned, buthe says it will continue to operate because his clients have paid for spots until next May.

"I have a problem how they enforce the bylaw. They make bylaw in June, middle of June, in July they want you to close down. You have customersto look after for 20,30 years.You're not going to kick them on the street."

Litsa Daeres, his daughter, says she already closed her parking lot on Garden Street, butthought she had more time to do so.

"When we went to court yesterday, or got summonsed for having a illegal parking lot, it was a little bit of a misunderstanding becausemy brother and I thought we were at the deadline for it."

In mid-September, city council authorized legal action against the owners of a number ofunregistered parking lots after receiving a report from city staff.

The owners of 31 other lots are now in discussions with the city to bring their properties into compliance, butPaulDaeressays he feelshe's being targeted unfairly with legal action.

He believes it's an attempt to push people to park in the underused Peel Plaza lot, an assessment with whichSaint John councillor Donna Reardon disagrees.

"From my perspective, absolutely not.I meanthat will be a benefit to that parking lot, to that parking garage. The bottom line is thatempty lots in your neighbourhood and in the city of Saint John are not good. They are not economic drivers."

The Daeres family haspleaded not guilty to the charges andwill be back in court in February.