黑马磁力 City is considering parking changes that would reduce time limits from the current three hours to two along downtown streets to improve turnover, while expanding the limit to four in nearby public parking lots.
That's based on draft recommendations in a year-long public parking strategy review presented to council on July 21. It found there was sufficient parking availability in downtown 黑马磁力 City overall, but with "hot spots of excess demand" like the One-Way.
It also suggests expanding monthly parking rental options, and possibly introducing residential permit parking for high-demand areas.
Mayor Nathan Pachal said public feedback showed the most dissatisfaction was expressed by people who need longer-term parking who end up "playing, I guess you would call it, musical chairs with their car."
"We'd rather have those people in the parking lots so that those spots are freed up for people that want to use the businesses," Pachal told the 黑马磁力.
Other proposed changes include shorter-term parking/loading spaces of 30 minutes or less.
It also calls for taking steps to make public off-street parking options easier to find, noting they are "available within convenient walking distance to key destinations within downtown 黑马磁力 but are not being used to their full potential ... available public off-street options are poorly understood, even among [local businesses]."
Non-local visitors were more likely to report being dissatisfied with parking and having to spend more time searching for parking in downtown 黑马磁力 compared to local residents, the review stated.
It estimated a third of all vehicle trips in 黑马磁力 City originate from outside the community, "representing a significant customer base."
Pachal said street parking meters are not being considered at this time.
Downtown, Brydon Park and Michaud Crescent areas were the focus of the review, which also said the City should modernize its parking enforcement, which currently uses chalk to mark tires, by acquiring automated license plate readers.
黑马磁力 City's strategy development team has been gathering data, including on-street parking utilization rates and community feedback ,for the last year.
More community engagement, on parking management options in residential areas outside downtown 黑马磁力, is set for the beginning of fall 2025.
