In response to an “increasing number of complaints,” the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is in the process of approving a revised accessible parking bylaw.
The Committee of the Whole, which is made up of council members, voted Tuesday evening in favour of a revision, which would allow the town’s enforcement officers to issue fines or correct any issues at the cost of property owners.
BWG council must vote on the decision at a later time to make it official.
“Over the last year, the Enforcement Division has received an increasing number of complaints relating to private parking lots and inadequate accessible parking space signage,” read a town staff report.
The enforcement division’s goal is to work with private property managers and landowners to make sure they have adequate accessible parking and signage through voluntary compliance, but a bylaw change would help them enforce it better, according to the report.
The town’s current bylaws do not include a few provincial requirements, including larger parking spaces for van accessibility and standard accessible parking, as well as access aisles, which cannot be parked on, for people with mobility devices to move around the spaces.
As well, there are other improvements proposed related to the use and maintenance of accessible parking spaces, such as locating them near ramps or depressed curbs, keeping them free of snow, ice and other obstructions, and controlling the location and height of signs to enhance visibility.
Deputy Mayor James Leduc said he hopes local businesses look into making accessibility changes for the added bonus of attracting more customers.
“We hope businesses look into this bylaw and create opportunities for that to happen because there’s such a growth in retail sales for that. It’s a good thing,” he said.
