Plan for paid street parking during evenings, weekends frustrates business owners

A plan to extend paid street parking hours into the evenings and weekends in high-traffic neighbourhoods is drawing the ire of some Ottawa business owners.

City staff are recommending a range of reforms to an on-street parking regime that's been the norm in Ottawa for decades.

Among the most significant changes are proposals to add five new paid parking zones, extend paid hours into the evenings and add paid Sunday parking in some high-traffic areas.

The new parking rules would promote vehicle turnover to give visitors "more choice and less frustration," according to a city report, but some business owners in the most affected neighbourhoods aren't convinced.

"Anyone that's in business, it will bother them, yes," said Paolo Di Rienzo, owner of Di Rienzo Grocery and Deli near Little Italy.

"They should leave it at least the way it is, because they already make enough money anyway."

In the ByWard Market, The Grand Pizzeria co-owner David Mangano called the proposed parking rules a "big concern."

"Anything that affects parking in the market, negatively, we're against," he said. "We need as many people to come to the market as we possibly can."

Glebe, Centretown, ByWard Market affected

While Mangano and others worry any extra parking hurdles could chase potential customers away, the city argues a new approach to parking would benefit visitors and businesses alike.

The city currently charges for street parking in 20 zones. The new plan would add five more — Churchill, Wellington West, Hintonburg, Richmond West and Richmond East.

New rules for evening and weekend parking, however, would only apply in the busiest zones. The city defines those as commercial areas with existing paid daytime parking where at least 80 per cent of the spots are filled at peak times in the evening or on the weekend.

For any areas that meet that bar, weekday paid parking would be extended from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., while in the mornings, a standard 8:30 a.m. start time would be brought in citywide, regardless of how busy the area is.

On weekends, paid parking would run from 10 a.m. to either 5:30 or 9 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, depending on demand.

Parts of the Glebe, Little Italy, downtown and several streets in and around the ByWard Market are set to see paid parking extended in the evening and on weekends.

The report includes a full list of new paid parking hours for each zone. Rates are typically around $3 per hour but vary by location and are "regularly reviewed and adjusted."

Staff estimate that the proposed rules would drive a net increase in annual parking fee revenues of about $3 million. That money would be re-invested in the city's parking management program to support road and sidewalk maintenance, among "other initiatives," the report says.

Encourage 'turnover' and reduce 'cruising'

The purpose of paid parking, according to the report, is to "encourage turnover" and make more spots available at any given time.

According to city staff, the benefits include "more choice and less frustration" when trying to park, more convenient parking for those with accessibility issues and less "cruising" in search of a parking spot.

The city also claims that revised parking hours would help support Ottawa nightlife by improving access for customers and encouraging foot traffic.

Mangano isn't buying it.

"The sweet spot for us — for diners and for retail — is 5:30 to 9:30, so the free parking is very beneficial to us," he said. "That's when the majority of money is spent in the ByWard Market, and in the other business districts around Ottawa."

Mangano said he's working on a compromise with the city that would preserve as much free parking as possible, while also allowing the city to raise more revenue.

ByWard 'not targeted,' councillor says

Not all businesses oppose the changes.

Claude Bonnet, owner of Le Moulin de Provence, said he believes extending paid parking hours into the evening is an approach that's "more fair for everybody" — and perhaps an opportunity to lower prices throughout the rest of the day.

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante said the new paid parking zones help address "a lot of inequality in parking" across the city.

Plante stressed that extended hours are not targeting any one neighbourhood in particular.

"We want to make sure that people understand the ByWard is not being targeted," she said. "We're not trying to extort money from people if they have to drive."

The report goes to committee on May 22 and city council on May 28. If approved, the city is aiming to roll out the new parking rates on Sept. 2.