Parking time limits in several locations downtown will increase from three to four hours mainly to accommodate patrons of events at the newly opened Aurora Town Square.
The change may prove to be temporary, as the town is to complete a town-wide parking study by the end of 2025, according to a staff report presented to council at a its Tuesday, Oct. 22 meeting.
Currently, the time limit for most parking in the downtown area is restricted to three hours.
Streets that will see longer time limits are mainly located around the new Town Square, including Victoria, Mosley, Church, Metcalfe and Wells streets, as well as Harrison Avenue, with parking permitted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
There will also be a four-hour parking limit added to the new lay-by lane on the north side of Church Street, in front of Town Square.
Parking on Yonge Street
Councillor Rachel Gilliland asked staff about extending the parking limits along Yonge Street from one hour to two hours, saying the topic “has been a bone of contention with several restaurateurs.”
“Several business owners there have suggested that they will have several complaints, they’re not getting enough reservations because they don’t have adequate time to park on Yonge Street,” she said.
Gilliland wanted to see the change included in the bylaw, but ultimately motioned for staff to report back to council about increasing the Yonge parking time limit, within the downtown Aurora business improvement area.
Council voted to enact a bylaw changing the parking time limit in areas of the town’s downtown from three to four hours.
Town staff are also to report back to council with information about increasing the time limit on Yonge Street at its November meeting.
