Last summer, WSP Canada Inc. was hired to study parking as part of the Town’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan. The purpose for creating a parking strategy is to improve efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability of parking in Yarmouth to support new and existing housing, local businesses, residents, and visitors. The consultants measured parking use, mapped supply vs. demand, reviewed rules, and spoke with residents, businesses and stakeholders. A key engagement piece was an online survey that received 588 responses.

Here are some key findings:

• Most visitors follow the two-hour rule — only 6% of observed parkers stayed longer than two hours. Short visits to the downtown are finding spaces.
• On-street parking is free for two hours; the study notes this and says free on-street parking remains reasonable given current use.
• Some municipal lots a short walk from Main Street are underused while curb spaces in the core are busier. Walking a block can increase your chances of finding a spot.
• Residents and businesses want safer, easier streets, clearer signs, and consistent enforcement. The study recommends clearer signage and clarified bylaw language as options to address this.
• The study suggests aiming for about 4% of curb spaces to be accessible and considering greener designs for off street lots to improve accessibility and environmental performance.
• To support more housing, the report presents options such as allowing fewer required parking spaces for some new buildings and piloting overnight permit zones (Town-owned lots) to allow some overnight on-street parking (Main Street).

What Happens Next?

Pending available resources and budget, Town staff may consider pilots or bylaw updates to implement key recommendations contained in the strategy. To read the full strategy report and presentation prepared by WSP, visit: www.townofyarmouth.ca/plansandstrategies