Hoping to park for free in Port Stanley? Not likely
CBC
A trip to the Port Stanley might be a little more costly this year.
To boost revenue streams, Central Elgin has increased the number of paid parking spaces in the beach town and beginning next month, fines for parking illegally will go up significantly.
"We have a lot of expenses in Port Stanley to keep it the way it is," said Central Elgin mayor, Sally Martyn.
Both beach goers and residents will now pay at five more municipal lots this year: Little Beach, East Headlands, the Visitor Centre, Erie Rest, and the Pharmacy will all be paid lots with the cost capped at $20 a day.
"Council has agreed to be fiscally responsible to the citizens to all of Central Elgin," said Martyn. "So we feel it's important that we raise more funds rather than just from property taxes to do these improvements."
As an example of the municipality's growing expenses, Martyn pointed to Port Stanley's new waterfront master plan, a 144-page report which staff presented to council just last month and outlines a long term vision for the harbour over the next 15 to 20 years.
In 2021, parking fees raised $412,317 for the municipality, and it estimates with converting five more lots to paid parking, it'll make an additional $336,016.
The municipality has also changed the fee structure for parking tickets. For example, if you exceed your parking time on Main St., you could be on the hook for a $105 parking ticket or $90 in a beach zone, up from around $40.
And don't try to camp in a parking lot overnight — that will cost you $200.
"I mean it doesn't seem to harm anybody, it seems to bring in business, right?" said Port Stanley Business Improvement Area (BIA) member, Michelle Graham. "They're going to Foodland, they're buying food there. They're going out for dinners."
"It's actually helping the businesses. But now the municipality's not allowing that as well," she said.
Graham hasn't been happy with the some of parking changes and is worried more beachgoers will try to park for free on the street.
"The businesses had concerns that people will just be dumping their cars on the main street, not allowing for any other people from out of town to park there to shop at the businesses," said Graham.
"I think they're more worried about income and not worried about representing the businesses and the residents of this town."
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