Northern Bruce Peninsula is looking for input on its 2022 parking report before making any changes to the program.
During a meeting on Dec. 12, a report was brought forward by Chief By-law Officer Carol Hopkins. It recommended putting the report on Let’s Talk NBP, a municipal engagement website, for 30 days to allow residents to comment. A report will be brought back to council for discussion, including any amendments to the parking and paid parking program.
A report on the parking program is brought to council at the end of every paid parking season, which includes recommendations for improvements.
“The public have well-received the current paid parking system. It reduces the impact on historic sites by creating a smaller, more organized parking area, and pedestrian safety and residents’ safe access to their driveways are some items the municipality strives to achieve. In addition, having an attendant monitoring the parking area provides information such as reservations, parking times, and rates. It promotes a well-organized environment primarily because we are more concerned than ever about where and how cars are parked. It also reduces the environmental impacts in the no-parking areas,” says the report.
The report brought to council outlines the current systems for parking in Tobermory, Big Tub Road, The Gap, Grant Watson Drive, Dunks Bay, Little Cove, Dorcas Bay Road, Dyers Bay, Borchardt Road, Carter Road, Lion’s Head, and McCurdy Drive, as well as staff recommendations for the upcoming 2023 parking season.
Staff are recommending the paid parking in Tobermory, Big Tub Road, The Gap, Dyers Bay, Borchardt Road, Dunks Bay, and Carter Road remain the same.
The report says for Grant Watson Drive, there have been issues with vehicles not having a resident parking pass taking one of the available six spots, causing issues for residents entering and exiting their driveways safely. In 2021, the parking lot was designated by council as resident only three-hour max parking. Staff are recommending resident only three-hour max parking remain the same.
Following issues with paid parking at the Little Cove parking lot, where Parks Canada would collect revenue, council implemented four-hour parking reservations in March 2022 for the 28 parking spaces in the lot. Between mid-May and mid-October, Little Cove saw almost 5,000 visitors, generating a gross revenue of $94,000, and over $26,000 from 1,592 Parks Canada Discovery Pass Holder/Day Pass. Staff are recommending the four-hour reservation parking remain the same.
For Dorcas Bay Road, the report says with issues of lack of parking and no stopping signs from the entrance of Singing Sands, congesting the area, it would benefit from a parking attendant managing the no parking and no stopping area. Staff are recommending the no parking and no stopping in the area remains the same.
In Lion’s Head, the report says paid parking was implemented in May 2021 and was reassessed in the fall. A number of changes and input for local businesses were implemented in 2022, including having Webster Street, from Alexander to Helen Street change from three-hour max paid parking to two hours of free parking. Moore Street, from John Street and Mill Street was also changed from three-hour max paid parking to all-day parking. Staff are recommending the paid parking situation in Lion’s Head remain the same.
Following the influx of visitors to McCurdy Drive in 2020, paid parking was later implemented in 2021. As a result of the area’s popularity and a lack of parking with only 38 spots available, however, the municipality set up a reservation parking system with four and eight-hour time slots. Between mid-May and mid-October, McCurdy saw over 7,400 visitors, generating a gross revenue of over $146,000. Staff are recommending the reservation time slots remain the status quo.
Hopkins says last year, the parking attendants were stationed at McCurdy Drive, Lion’s Head, Little Cove, Tobermory, and Big Tub over the weekends from July to August to assist people who had reserved parking as well as follow directions.
She says they are potentially looking to add more attendants at Dunks Bay, Dorcas Bay, and Grant Watson Drive, at a cost of $5,200 each.
The report says with the recommendations, about $15,600 for the parking attendants have been recorded for consideration in the 2023 budget. A treasurer’s report regarding parking meter revenue and expenses for the 2022 season will be brought to council when they have all been calculated.
Those interested in viewing the report can visit the Lets’s Talk NBP website here.
