Kincardine councillor proposes bringing back two-hour parking limit

A proposal to bring back the two-hour parking limit in downtown Kincardine met with mixed reaction at the Kincardine council table last night (July 2).

Councillor Andrew White brought forward the "unpopular topic" because, he said, it's difficult to find a parking spot in the downtown.

"If we're going to have our tourism information booth downtown, there needs to be some place for those tourists to park," he said, adding that this would bring in more revenue; plus, it would require a full-time bylaw enforcement officer which has even more benefits for the community.

"I disagree with this," said councillor Gordon Campbell. "It's tough to find a parking spot but that's just the way it goes."

Councillor Maureen Couture agreed that you can never find a parking spot downtown, but she disagreed with Campbell.

"We need to do something about it," she said. "With a two-hour parking limit, people do their business and leave, and that frees up space for tourists and shoppers to park. Right now, people who work downtown are parking on the street and leaving their cars there all day."

"I never have trouble getting a parking space," said deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert. "I agree with the spirit of this but I would like to get a comment from the BIA (Business Improvement Area) about it as well."

Mayor Anne Eadie suggested staff compile some information on this issue and bring a report back to council. The BIA will also be contacted for input.

With respect to downtown parking, chief administrative officer Murray Clarke said the municipal parking lot, east of the downtown core, is slated to be fixed up and paved in September-October of this year.