Pay for parking by the beach? Norfolk residents, businesses scorch council’s plan

A trip to the beach could be more expensive this summer if Norfolk County council approves a plan to charge for parking by Lake Erie.

On Tuesday, councillors will vote on a pilot project that would see paid parking enforced on select streets near the water in Port Dover, Turkey Point and Long Point from June 15 to Sept. 15.

The proposal would see visitors pay $6 per hour to park in designated zones, with the first hour free.

Fines for illegal parking would be hiked from $75 to $150, with drivers who overstay a posted time limit ticketed $75 instead of the current $35.

Proponents of the plan, including ward councillors in the three lakeside communities, say something must be done to crack down on visitors who park in prime downtown spots and head to the beach for the day, often without patronizing any local businesses.

Ideally, said Andrew Schneider of the Port Dover Board of Trade, parking would stay free, but the county's bylaw department would more strenuously enforce the existing two-hour limit.

But that hasn't happened in the last 15 years," Schneider told councillors at a recent meeting, citing a lack of bylaw officers, particularly on nights and weekends.

When it is enforced, the penalty is minimal and does little to discourage all-day parking," the longtime restaurateur said. We need turnover in front of our businesses, not just to survive, but to thrive."

Schneider said giving people one hour free would allow locals to run errands in town. There would still be free parking along the entire length of Main Street and a large county-owned lot a short walk from the beach.

At the urging of downtown Port Dover business owners, councillors voted March 8 to double the $3 hourly fee proposed by staff and eliminate the proposed daily maximum of $20.

That drew the ire of many in Long Point.

Ray Ferris, a realtor and marina owner, said the proposed pricing is unfair" to local businesses during their bread-and-butter season."

The community's upset about this. People have repeatedly said it's just too much, particularly right now," said Ferris, noting that with food and gas prices up sharply, this is the worst time to charge six dollars an hour to take your kid to the beach."

Ferris criticized councillors for crafting a one-size-fits-all solution" when the three communities have different needs, pointing out that unlike Port Dover, Long Point businesses do not depend on high turnover. Visitors usually come for the day, and Ferris worries if they blow their budget" on parking, that leaves fewer dollars to buy ice cream or fries.

I think Norfolk County has got this wrong," said Ferris, who has written to council on behalf of local businesses opposed to the plan and has collected more than 820 signatures on a petition calling for lower parking rates in Long Point.

Mayor Kristal Chopp was the sole member of council to vote against the paid parking plan at a recent council-in-committee meeting, calling the idea a non-starter" without better enforcement.

Instead, the mayor wants to see parking fines doubled and have bylaw officers double their efforts to ticket illegally parked vehicles, which Chopp said would likely bring in more revenue while not annoying" local residents who follow the rules.

Paid parking and enforcement go hand in hand," said Bob Fields, Norfolk's traffic services manager.

Fields said the pilot project includes money to hire four summer students to act as bylaw officers on weekends and evenings.

Paid parking simplifies the enforcement side of it," Fields told The Spectator, since bylaw officers can electronically track arrival times.

The pilot project is expected to turn a profit of roughly $110,000, but Fields said its main purpose is to maximize the spaces" and encourage turnover, while collecting data that can be used when crafting a future countywide parking plan.

A survey circulated ahead of staff's report to council found public opinion evenly split on the need for paid parking. But reaction to the news on social media has been decidedly against the idea, with many residents critical of what they see as a cash grab that will not make a dent in the overcrowding problem and will instead lead to tourist traffic crowding residential side streets.

We've certainly heard loud and clear what the community has to say," Fields told council.

We recognize the status quo isn't working."

J.P. Antonacci's reporting on Haldimand and Norfolk is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. jpantonacci@thespec.com