We have yet to see snow stick, but Michelle Herman is already done with Innisfil’s winter parking restrictions.
The Alcona resident and licensed paralegal is behind an online petition that urges council to reconsider current rules that prohibit on-street parking from midnight to 7 a.m. between Nov. 1 and May 1.
Herman says the policy places “undue strain” on residents, especially those who are older or have mobility issues, because many do not have sufficient driveway or garage space to accommodate multiple vehicles, especially in newer subdivisions. It also hampers young adults who live with their parents because they cannot yet afford to be on their own.
“Me and my partner, we’re almost 30, but with the housing crisis that we’re currently in, we’re still living at our parents’ places,” she said. “His family of five, everyone except for my partner has a car, so their driveway is full. During the winter, we can’t spend nights at his place unless I walk over.
"That’s something I’m sure is very prevalent across the entire town," Herman added. "We live in a different time; we know Innisfil is growing exponentially. More young adults are staying with their parents. There’s multi-generational houses and houses being rented piecemeal. It’s a big burden."
Innisfil’s bylaw forces residents to find alternative parking options or risk penalties, even without the presence of snow, Herman said.
“The current policy imposes significant challenges on residents without flexible considerations, especially given Innisfil’s recent population growth, weather patterns, and comparative policies in nearby communities,” the petition states.
Herman points to less-restrictive policies in neighbouring municipalities like Barrie, New Tecumseth and Bradford West Gwillimbury. Barrie’s general winter rules run from Dec. 1 to March 31, according to its website, with overnight on-street parking prohibited between midnight and 7 a.m. New Tecumseth bans parking from 2 to 7 a.m. between Nov. 15 and April 15.
Bradford’s general rules bar on-street parking between 2 and 6 a.m. from Dec. 1 to April 1.
“We have the most restrictive policy among our neighbouring communities,” Herman said. “That sense of injustice really started to sink in. I have (been) fined for parking overnight when there wasn’t any snow.”
So far, the petition has collected about 50 signatures. Herman wants to bring the document to council within about a month, in hopes changes could be tested before the end of this winter parking season and enacted next fall.
The town says it will await that presentation before taking action.
“As the petition is addressed to council, it would be up to them to determine if further investigation is required,” spokesperson Jane Cocking said.
Innisfil’s rules are meant to ensure plows can quickly and safely clear snow from streets.
To avoid penalties, the town does recommend drivers use free overnight lots at Quarry Road (1160 Quarry Dr.), Lormel Gate Avenue (1384 Lormel Gate Ave.) and Huron Court (1260 Huron Ct.) parks, which are maintained throughout the cold-weather months.
But that’s simply not convenient or feasible in a municipality that lacks a standard transportation network, Herman said.
So what, specifically, does she seek? “Common sense” snow-activated parking restrictions, an adjustment of the winter period to December through March, and an option for residents to request temporary on-street parking permits during clear-weather periods.
“When you look for places that are renting, a great deal of them are in basements,” Herman said. “It’s not houses for one family, but two or three. How difficult must it be to co-ordinate who is parking where … and what we’re going to do with the cars for half the year? It’s a good thing that we keep cars off the street when the plows need to go out. I just want the legislation to more closely reflect what our neighbours are doing.”
To view or sign the petition, visit docs.google.com.
