Whitchurch-Stouffville Makes Changes To Parking Enforcement

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has made a series of changes to their parking bylaw, including the reinstatement of parking restrictions on residential streets.

On Tuesday November 7, Town Council approved a series of changes after staff conducted a thorough public consultation on the state of parking in the municipality. Included in these changes is the reinstatement of 3-hour parking limits on all streets and highways in the Town, the offering of on-street parking exemptions for residents to allow for guests or driveway repair, and eliminating the on-street permit parking program.

“On-street parking was raised as a major concern for residents in the recent parking study,” said Linda Mainprize, Municipal Law Enforcement Manager for the Town.  “Returning to 3-hour parking restrictions helps alleviate congestion and drivers using streets as their primary parking location.”

According to the Parking By-Law, no vehicle in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville may park on any Town street, road or highway for more than 3 hours except on portions of Church Street South, Dougherty Crescent, Miltrose Crescent, James Ratcliff Ave. and Brill Crescent.

“Town bylaw officers will now be ticketing vehicles parked longer than 3 hours on all other streets, effective immediately,” Mainprize said.

Mainprize also reminds residents that there is no overnight parking on any street between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. from December 1 through March 31.

The Town is now offering on-street parking exemptions. Residents are allowed 12 exemptions per year, per licence plate.

“If you are having guests over or need to park on a street because of driveway repairs, you can go online and get an exemption” she says. “These exemptions are not meant for people to circumvent parking enforcement, therefore the number of exemptions must be limited and controlled to be effective.”

Effective December 1, residents and business owners may purchase parking permits for selected spots in town-owned parking lots. Permits will be issued in one-day, one-week and one-month durations and be available for sale in the coming weeks.

Town Council has eliminated all other parking permits within the Town, including those for residential streets.

All the changes to the parking restrictions and the permit system will be in effect until the time a Parking Working Group is formed. Council, earlier this year, authorized the formation of such a group to monitor and suggest recommendations to Council about the parking situation in the municipality.