Saint John council split over ending free south-end parking

Saint John council is split over a proposal from the city's planning commission that could see drivers in the south end stripped of their ability to park for free in the area.

The recommendation to include the south end as part of the parking enforcement area has been under debate in recent years.

The proposal took a step forward on Monday night when a draft bylaw, which was proposed by the parking commission, was discussed by Saint John council.

If the bylaw is approved, citizens would no longer be able to park for free closer to the uptown region.

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Butcouncillorspunted the issue on Monday night, saying they needed more time to consult with citizens and businesses over the possible change.

Saint John Mayor Don Darling said he has heard concerns from people working minimum wage jobs and other large employers in the area.

But he wasn't prepared to vote for the draft bylaw.

"Just want to be clear that we are not having an impact that we didn't anticipate. So hopefully within the draft bylaw we'll have something that we can look at and give further consideration to," he said.

Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary said it was tough to make a decision on the proposal without hearing from more outside groups.

"I know council wants it, but I need to know that we are doing the right thing," McAlary said.

McAlary also said was concerned that not everyone would be able to afford parking.

"This could have an effect on how many people come uptown because there is no free places to park anymore because it's either city-owned parking lot or private-owned parking lot," she said.

"We also have to encourage people to use the uptown. We have a lot of issues with our uptown, with our businesses. They are not getting the people that they want to do business with."

Ward councillors back plan

The two councillors, Gerry Lowe and Donna Reardon, who represent the ward that would be affected by the parking change are fully behind the recommendation.

Reardon, who also sits on the Saint John Parking Commission, said it's time to end the free parking in the south end.

"There is no such thing as free parking, your roads aren't free, your potholes that you have to fill aren't free, your plowing isn't free," said Reardon.

"People who park on the street all day who roll their vehicles around, or parked south of Queen Street all day have downloaded that amenity parking onto the citizens of Saint John," she said.

Lowe called for an end to all-day free parking to non-residents in the central peninsula area a year ago.Lowe said last Augusthe hopedto push more motorists into city managed parking lots, including Peel Plaza.

This is also not the first timeReardonhas raised the parking issue.

In 2014, she said more parking meters were needed on the peninsula. She said commuters were not paying for parking because they were leaving their vehicles in residential areas.

The recommendation to end free parking in the area came after an internal review, according to Ian MacKinnon, the chief executive officer of the Saint John Transit and Parking Commission.

"Based on our experience to date with the existing parking area, based on our understanding of off-street parking and its impacts on-street parking, we believe it's the right thing to do," MacKinnon said.

"We know the parking supply for off street is diminishing and the flow of traffic to uptown is increasing and we feel this is just the next evolution of parking administration."