Report: Centre Wellington needs to provide more downtown parking

CENTRE WELLINGTON ‒ A new study on the township's new municipal parking strategy will validate some residents' concerns that there's simply not enough parking in downtown Centre Wellington. 

In a new report on the growing parking demands in downtown Centre Wellington, a study being presented to council on Monday found Elora is "in critical need" of additional parking whereas Fergus simply requires more. 

While several needs are listed in the report, the study highlights creating more long-term parking for employees and residents, implementing paid parking to manage demand and serve as a revenue source, as well as looking for opportunities to promote alternative transportation and related infrastructure. 

In Elora, specific concerns were also noted about short-term rentals not providing enough parking on-site and taking away parking for residents.

"Many residents in the downtowns who do not have parking available at their place of residence relied on municipal parking supply for their long-term parking requirements," said staff in the report. "However, this option is no longer available throughout the year since the implementation of the three-hour parking limits."

According to the study, parking is generally not convenient during peak times in Fergus' downtown core while St. Andrews Street between Tower Street and St. David Street and the Queen Street, Menzies Lane and St. Patrick parking lots often welcome above-average volumes. 

Staff also suggest the township explore more opportunities to accommodate long-term parking after the study found 10 per cent of vehicles parked on St. Andrews Street and 27 per cent of vehicles parked on Metcalfe St. parked longer than two hours on the weekend. 

Earlier this year, resident's comments on parking and the township's new municipal parking strategy were collected during an open house, detailing concerns about insufficient parking in Elora and Fergus, the future use of municipal parking spaces in the face of residential intensification and that economic development is being prioritized over residents. 

A final report, along with financial implications and staff recommendations is anticipated to be brought back to council in January 2024.

The full report is available here. 

Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.