Saint John ponders changes to snow parking ban

The City of Saint John is looking into changing its overnight winter parking ban, just a few weeks after the plan was introduced.

Some councillors say they've been inundated with calls and emails from concerned residents since details of the ban were made public.

The ban restricts overnight parking on most city streets between mid-November and mid-April to allow for effective snow removal. Any vehicles that violate the ban can be ticketed and towed.

Shawn Cawley, who lives in the Red Head subdivision, is angry. He has two cars, but only has enough space for one vehicle in his driveway.

"I've actually got my vehicle parked on my lawn. And so do others in that area as well. That's how it's directly affected us," he said.

"Do we sell our homes? Does our property taxes increase because we have no sufficient place for parking? What do we do here?"

Some exemptions

Exemptions have been made in some areas, where there is no space for off-street parking, such as the old north end, lower west side, residential areas of the south-central peninsula, and the Wright street area, north of the throughway.

Gary Sullivan, one of the councillors pushing for changes to the ban, has proposed further exemptions.

He contends the city should let people park their cars on the streets when weather allows and when plowing has already been completed.

"I think it's appropriate to inconvenience people when we have to plow the streets. I don't think it's that appropriate to inconvenience people when there is no need to plow," he said.

Sullivan has also suggested people could apply for a permit to give them better access to on-street parking.

City staff members have said the idea has merit and are currently reviewing the proposal to assess whether it fits in with the overall plan.

Council unanimously adopted the parking ban on Oct. 26.