Parking problem

Closing section of Pope Road recommended

The City of Summerside is considering making a small stretch of Pope Road off limits to parking.

A motion was brought forward during Tuesday’s committee of council meeting that would eliminate six parking spots along the south side of the busy roadway near the Summerside Tax Centre. Council voted to recommend the motion be passed during the full council meeting later this month. According to Summerside Police Services Chief David Poirier, his office has received a number of complaints from local businesses and residents regarding traffic safety in the area. The situation is especially bad during processions from the nearby funeral home.

“I really don’t see how us taking away six spaces is going to affect too many people,” noted Coun. Tyler Desroches. “But it will improve safety of the citizens.”

However, the motion touched off a larger discussion among councillors regarding parking in the area.

The parking spaces in question are mostly used by employees of the Summerside Tax Centre.

The centre employs hundreds of people and its own parking lot has been insufficient to meet demand for spaces for many years.

Both sides of Pope Road in front of the tax centre would routinely become full of cars. A few years ago a deal was struck to allow some daytime parking at the newly constructed Pope Road Gospel Hall. While this measure did alleviate some of the parking stress, cars are still routinely parked along the side of the road. Coun. Gordie Whitlock said that while he in favour of the motion to eliminate the six spaces, he would like to see a long-term plan developed to fix the parking problem in the area. That sentiment was echoed by most of the councillors present Tuesday.

Mayor Bill Martin noted that shortly after he and council was elected he met with management of the tax centre to discuss this issue.

At that time, said Martin, management’s position was that the tax centre meets the federal guidelines for parking at one of its facilities. The challenge being, he added, is that what works in centres like Toronto and Montreal does not work in places like Summerside. Council will vote on whether to reject or accept the committee’s recommendation at its next monthly meeting.