N.B. approves changes to tighten parking bylaw regulations

Sep 11, 2018 | 3:00 PM

North Battleford drivers hoping to land some extra hours to park downtown will want to change their plans now that the city has made its traffic bylaw more stringent.

Council approved amending the traffic bylaw at its meeting Monday to prohibit drivers from parking for the two- hour time limit where indicated, then moving their vehicles to another spot on the same block for on-street parking, or to another stall for off-street parking, essentially to beat the clock and possibly a ticket.

The bylaw also indicates people parking in permit parking spots must make their permit visible on the dash.

“These changes were recommended by administration earlier this summer season,” Bater said following the meeting. “There have been a lot of changes within the downtown parking regime which is all facilitated by additional economic development downtown.” 

He said previously people were parking on vacant commercial lots downtown. Now that these lots are being used for development, its led to parkers seeking other stalls.

“Our motivation for the entire traffic bylaw changes is to ensure that customers of downtown businesses are able to park in appropriate place and access those businesses,” Bater said. “That’s why we made those changes, and that’s why they are being enforced.”

Bater said the city has been in contact with a number of property owners about the issue.

Where street parking spots are being used by business staff, the mayor recommends they find other options.

“This is downtown in the city,” Bater added. “Sometimes you don’t get to park right outside where you work. You might have to walk half a block.”

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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