Hub Staff
An information report presented to Saugeen Shores Council June 12 will result in left turning lanes at the Goderich and Gustavus Street intersection as well as a reconfiguration in current parking spaces.
The plan was approved by Saugeen Shores Council and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in 2012 and Director of Public Works Amanda Froese said the turning lanes are required. “It’s a safety need... we have a traffic study, we have an agreement with MTO and these left turn lanes are supposed to be there and it’s our job to balance safety and business,” she said.
The upgrades would involve a reconfiguration of some downtown parking spaces with the possibility of a new space opening up at the alley between 617 and 625 Goderich Street, the current Eby’s Barber Shop and Optimize Healing Centre.
When asked by Councillor Mike Myatt if Town staff is on the lookout for additional parking spaces, Froese replied, “There is an approved parking plan for Port Elgin and that’s what I’ll bring to Council next year, to be included in the 2018 budget,” said Froese adding, “There is an opportunity for suggestions to the plan, we can bring that first to Committee and look for your input.”
Councillor Neil Menage said he was opposed to the changes as he didn’t believe left turning lanes were necessary but also made reference to an opportunity to create new parking spaces.
In a January 2017 Port Elgin BIA meeting Menage presented plans that aimed to create additional parking spaces to meet “current needs and future demands.”
Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau wanted to ensure that the downtown businesses were cognizant that the changes were about to occur.
In a June 14 interview BIA President Jeff Carver said that the association is aware of the changes at the Gustavus and Goderich intersection and believes parking is being shifted, not lost.
He said he believes the Town is acting in good faith and will work with the BIA and downtown businesses to ensure that parking in downtown Port Elgin is a priority moving forward.
