The decision made by Calgary city council in March to charge Calgarians to park in front of their homes has come home to roost, and residents are furious..An online petition titled "Petition against changes to City of Calgary residential parking permit program 2023" garnered more than 9,000 signatures since last week..The new policy was first reported by the Western Standard back in March..The petition, started by Brenda Tackaberry, reads in part, “In 2023 Calgary City Council approved changes to the Residential Parking Permit Program which includes substantial increase of fees for homeowners in single detached homes, and introduced the Market Permit which allows residents of high-rise apartments to obtain permits and park within 150 (metres) of their buildings for $150.”.“Up until now, homeowners in Residential Parking Zones (RPZ’s) were given two free permits and could purchase a third for $108 and were also given two free visitor permits. With the changes passed by council, to obtain the same passes will now cost $800.” .“Not only are changes to the program cost prohibitive for many (lower income, seniors, disabled, new families, refugees), but it is also not accessible to many as the permits must be purchased online and visitors must be registered for each visit.”.Tackaberry is not surprised the petition is so successful..“We're amidst record inflation right now. The cost of living is through the roof. And I think passing through these fees at this amount at this time is really insensitive," Tackaberry told CTV.."So I anticipated as more people found out about the changes the city was planning to pass through, more people would get on board and show opposition.".The city says 11,800 households are covered by permitted parking, adding the new fee structure would affect Calgarians based on where they live and the type of home in which they live..According to the city's website, residents of a ground-oriented dwelling will need a residential parking permit and will pay $50 per year for the first permit, $75 per year for a second permit and $125 per year for a third permit..A select permit is available for Calgarians living in small multi-residential buildings constructed after 1945, which have a permit costing $75 a year. For those living in larger multi-unit buildings built since 1945 in city centre, a permit will cost $150 per month; in the inner city a permit is $100 a month; in the suburbs it’s $75 monthly. A low-income permit is also available for $6.25 a month for the suburbs..Getting a parking spot in front of your home is not guaranteed..Cynthia Caldwell, with a home in St. Andrews Heights, told CTV she's incensed she'll be charged $50 to park her own vehicle, and more for a visitor pass for her own neighbourhood, insisting it is not "preferential access.”."I don't get guaranteed parking. I don't even get guaranteed parking on my street," Caldwell said. "I get parking permission for somewhere in my neighbourhood. How is that preferential?".According to the city, it conducted two rounds of public consultation before taking the residential parking permit fee idea to council..Chris Blaschuk, Calgary Parking Authority general manager, said when the original plan was presented the fee was much lower than the new plans.."We did provide council with a transitional approach to the user fees for the residential program. We were looking at a $15-per-year-per-permit program," Blaschuk told CTV.."Council at that time asked us to bring forward an option that would see complete recovery of the fees for the program, and so we provided that, and that's what they approved in November.".Inner-city Ward 7 is one of the most affected by the high rates, with Coun. Terry Wong saying his office is hearing from residents who are furious..“This is a surprise to most of them and they're suddenly going, 'Well, everybody else gets to park in front of the house for free, why not us?'" Wong told CTV. "Right now, the potential (for it) going back to council would require that it be brought forward for reconsideration.” .“And through the reconsideration, then we'd have to obviously justify why. Why would we get away from a user-pay to an alternative approach? And what would the alternative approach be?".A CTV Calgary survey of five other cities in Canada compared the cost of residential parking permits..Here's what the news outlet found: how other cities compare: Regina $150 a year; Toronto $21.34 to $86.29 a year; Vancouver $55 a year for most of the city; but West Vancouver: $423 a year; Winnipeg: $25 a year; and Edmonton currently free but under review..The city reminds current holders of permits expiring between now and Sept. 30 will automatically be extended until Sept. 30 and there is no need to renew at this time..Starting Aug. 1, permits at the new fee structure will be available for renewal or purchase.
