Saint John cracking down on illegal private parking lots

Saint John is cracking down on illegal parking lotsafter areport presented to councillorsbycity staff Monday night recommended they authorize legalaction against the owners of five properties.

The municipality plans to take those five unregistered, private competitorsto court and is working with the owners of31 others tomake their lots arefully compliant through zoning changes or other measures.

Coun. Gerry Lowe, whohasmade parking issues a priority, says such a crackdown is long overdue.

"I don't think anybody's every been prosecuted in this city for an illegal parking lot, so that will be the first time that ever happens," he said.

Lowe hopes the legal action will help get more cars into the city's nearly new $16-million Peel Plazaparking garage, which runs huge annual deficits and is often less than one-quarter full.

But councillor Shirley McAlarysays the city should also look into its monthly parking prices.

"They have to become competitive with the private owners somehow because that's how they're going to get more customers," she said.

The monthly parking rate at Peel Plaza is $113.McAlarysays there are nearby private lots charging $50less.

Councillors have also asked city managers to prepare a report looking at a number of other measures, including, potentially, an end to free on-street parking in the lower part of the southern peninsula, below Queen Street.

McAlary doubts that will work unless the city lowers its own parking rates.