Bylaw officers begin enforcing new evening, Saturday paid on-street parking restrictions this weekend

Bylaw officers are now enforcing new paid parking rules in some Ottawa neighbourhoods, causing frustration and confusion. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

The meter is set to run out on free on-street parking on evenings and Saturdays in four Ottawa neighbourhoods this weekend, as Bylaw Services officers begin enforcing the new paid parking rules.

In May, council approved a plan to implement paid on-street parking during the evenings in the ByWard Market and parts of Little Italy and the Glebe and introduced paid on-street parking on Saturdays in parts of Centretown, Glebe South and Little Italy South.

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Staff said the extended paid parking hours are designed to encourage vehicle turnover in parking spaces in “high-demand commercial areas.”

Bylaw Services tell CTV News Ottawa the new Pay and Display parking regulations took effect on Oct. 11, and officers will begin issuing tickets to drivers who do not pay the meter on Saturday.

“Since the launch, Bylaw and Regulatory Services (BLRS) has focused primarily on informing and educating the public about the new paid parking hours to ensure a smooth transition,” Roger Chapman, Director of Bylaw and Regulatory Services, said in an email to CTV News Ottawa.

“However, beginning October 25, all vehicles parked in Pay and Display areas will be subject to ticketing for failing to pay or for parking in excess of the purchased time.

“BLRS reminds motorists that parking regulations and signage can change. Drivers are encouraged to always double-check posted signs to ensure they are parked legally and to help keep parking spaces accessible for everyone.”

Here is the look at the extended parking hours on evenings and Saturdays:

• ByWard Market, Besserer and King Edward areas: Paid on-street parking extended to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturday evenings
• Little Italy South (paid parking on Preston Street south of Highway 417 as well as on adjacent streets): Paid on-street parking extended to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.
• Glebe South (Bank Street and adjacent side streets between Holmwood Avenue and First Avenue): Paid on-street parking extended to 7:30 p.m. on weekday evenings. Paid parking will end at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
• Downtown (between Bronson Avenue and the Rideau Canal, north of Gilmour Street to Parliament Hill): Paid on-street parking extended to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Ottawans react

Running an errand for a friend downtown, has come at a cost for Anthony Shecolski who got a ticket he didn’t see coming on Saturday.

“I park here all the time. I didn’t know that this change was coming into effect this weekend,” Shecolski told CTV News Ottawa.

Shecolski says he parked on Gloucester Street last evening and consulted the signage but missed the changes indicating the new parking days and hours.

“It’s getting harder and harder and harder to get downtown. You know, I’d prefer to take public transit, but it just doesn’t run reliably enough for me. It’s expensive to drive, and there’s no parking anywhere that I can find for long enough for me,” he said.

Centretown resident Mehdi Lakhdari says he thinks other priorities deserve attention in his neighbourhood.

“I think there’s so many more important issues to take care of in this neighbourhood,” Lakhdari said.

Terrie Meehan on the other hand, who has lived in Centretown for nearly ten years, says she is glad to see parking enforced on Saturdays.

“Love it. I live in the area, and it means my visitors actually have a chance to find a parking spot near my building,” she said.

Some residents parking in Little Italy on Saturday say they will miss being able to park for free in the neighbourhood all weekend long.

“It just doesn’t make sense to me,” Jayda Snell said. “It’s $8 to park for two hours. Eight bucks is my drink. So now the money that I had planned to spend on that, I’m now paying double. So again, why come down?”

“When we come here, it’s one of the draws because it’s always free parking on Saturday,” said Dennis Brunner. “But now that we have to pay for it, well, we just have to be prepared to pay. I don’t particularly like it, but, the city has to make income.”

Saint Patrick Basilica seeks changes

The rector of Saint Patrick Basilica on Kent Street is calling on the City of Ottawa to rescind the extended parking restrictions on Gloucester and Nepean streets on Saturdays, noting the church is busy.

“I think we can all agree that Saint Patrick Basilica makes a tremendous contribution to the life of our community,” Father Stephen Amesse said in a letter to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster.

“Saturdays are important days for us, as they usually include baptisms, weddings, funerals, confessions and always include a Mass at 7:30 a.m. (understanding that the parking restrictions do not affect this Mass) and a 4:30 Sunday vigil Mass which is celebrated on Saturday. During the baptisms, weddings and funerals, many people attend who are outside of our parish but who reside in the City of Ottawa. Our vigil Mass also includes not only neighbours but the faithful from around the national capital.”

In an interview with CTV News Ottawa, Amesse expressed concerns about paid parking on Nepean Street.

“Why Nepean Street? It really doesn’t make any sense to have paid parking on Nepean; there’s nothing here except the church,” Amesse said.

“We have a school across the street - obviously not open on Saturday. There are three small businesses within a two-block radius of here; all are to go, so nobody is eating there.”

Amesse said the church was not consulted on the possible changes in parking rules.

“What message are we giving to people when they come to church, a family member, a friend are going to walk away with a ticket,” Amesse said.

“Politicians in this city, at all three levels, are talking about the revitalization of downtown. What message are we giving people when they come downtown and they get a parking ticket because they come to church.”

Chapman tells CTV News Ottawa that no tickets had been issued prior to Saturday in the new Pay and Display zone in the vicinity of Saint Patrick Basilica since the new pay and Display parking regulations took effect on Oct. 11.

With files from CTV’s Kimberley Johnson.