BDIA suggests more free parking, longer limits in parking study input

An introductory meeting was held with members of the BDIA in April 2024 to obtain feedback on parking issues, opportunities, and concerns. The meeting included an introductory presentation from the consulting team to members of the committee to outline the scope of the project, the approach to data collection and assessment of parking conditions, some initial context about the role of parking and the financial framework guiding the City in managing the parking program, and some key questions about parking in downtown Belleville to solicit feedback.

Feedback received as part of the initial meeting with the BDIA centered around six key themes:

1. Overnight Parking

• The BDIA felt that the City was missing an important opportunity to generate revenue and address the needs of downtown property owners by restricting overnight parking in surface parking lots.
• Providing an overnight parking permit would:
  • Provide parking for residents of the downtown with no parking for their apartment units.
  • Provide parking to support conversion of upper floor residential units to short-term rentals.
  • Support broader community objectives to reduce impaired driving by allowing patrons to leave their vehicles without fear of them being towed.
• The BDIA felt that the City could charge a flat rate for overnight paid parking.

2. Time Limits

• The BDIA felt that the 1-hour limit for on-street parking on Front Street is not long enough and would deter users from longer shopping trips or visiting multiple stores on one visit. They also noted that contractors need longer than 1 hour of parking for service calls to downtown businesses.
• There is an opportunity to introduce free parking in the Riverside and Front Street lots to encourage use.
• They noted that existing loading zones are not being used, with larger trucks typically blocking a lane of traffic to provide deliveries.

3. Rates

• The BDIA would like to see more free parking in the downtown to allow them to better compete with free parking offered in other commercial areas by store owners and at the mall.
• Higher rates for parking should be combined with a period of free parking to encourage longer stays and reduce the overall cost to users.
• There was some concern expressed with the current $65 rate for a monthly parking permit – they noted that this is an issue for businesses trying to recruit part-time workers or for businesses with no parking. They also feel it creates a deterrent to filling vacant storefronts and downtown office spaces.

4. Parking Supply

• There was a general feeling that the supply of downtown parking is adequate.
• The City could explore the opportunity to move parking away from the downtown waterfront to repurpose this space for community uses – requiring new lots or a garage in vacant downtown lots.
• Parking around the Library can be difficult to find at times.
• It was noted that accessible spaces in lots are not well used.
• The members felt that vehicles tend to circle around the downtown to find free on-street parking spaces, adding to traffic levels and conflicts.
• Members noted that the Riverside South lot is busy during most days and noted its proximity to the Service Ontario outlet as a key destination for users.
• There is a wait list for monthly parking permits in the Front Street and BUC lot; however, on many days there are many open unused spaces in both lots – particularly the BUC lot.
• The City should consider downtown events when assessing parking needs.

5. Parking Signage

• There was a general feeling that the City should better clarify the rules for parking on the signage in lots – for example when users need to pay versus when parking is free.
• The use of illuminated signs in lots would improve visibility of the signs.
• The pay-and-display machines in lots should accept debit cards as a payment option.

6. Customer Service

• The members felt that the City should explore opportunities to enhance their website to provide more information about the parking program and better communicate the program options and rules with users.
• The members generally felt that a less aggressive approach to enforcement would improve public perception of shopping downtown.