CENTRE WELLINGTON – On-street parking in downtown Fergus and Elora is going to change, probably by spring.
Township council agreed at a committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 18 to add three-hour limits to on-street parking on St. Andrew Street and Queen Street West in Fergus and on Metcalfe Street, Mill Street East and West, and Price Street in Elora.
Currently there are no time restrictions for on-street parking.
Both downtowns will also see the addition of two 15-minute parking spots strategically located near banks, libraries and other in-and-out kinds of shops.
The recommendation came from the Transportation Master Plan approved by council last spring. The intent, said public works manager Rob Rosso, manager of public works, is to increase turnover and availability of prime parking spaces downtown.
Some councillors wanted to see more 15-minute spots.
“Let’s see how this plays out,” Rosso said.
“Yes,” agreed Mayor Kelly Linton. “If it’s not working, we can fix it.”
There will still be un-timed parking on nearby streets, like St. Patrick Street in Fergus and Geddes Street in Elora. Rosso said there will be new signs installed in March or April.
Centre Wellington will be hiring an outside company to enforce the new three-hour on-street parking rules on downtown streets in Elora and Fergus that will come into effect this spring. Township staff will be putting out a tender in the near future to retain the services of a bylaw-parking enforcement company.
The restrictions will be in effect from 9am to 7pm, seven days a week.
“We intend to have the signs up ahead of (hiring a new enforcement officer)”, added CAO Andy Goldie.
“That will give a little grace period for people to get used to it. Then we’ll evaluate at the end of the year.”
