New parking limits cause confusion in Crystal Beach

South Coast Cookhouse is telling Crystal Beach customers they can still park free for three hours behind Derby Square, after new town parking rules caused confusion.

The restaurant wrote Monday in a social media post that the town “recently changed the municipal parking lot rules for the lot behind Derby Square,” and that poor signage and communication had led to “confusion and misinformation.”

The Town of Fort Erie lists the Cambridge parking lot, north of Erie Road between Derby and Belfast roads, as free for the first three hours between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Drivers who stay longer pay $2 an hour for up to two more hours.

“No one seems to know the rules. But most importantly, I want our valued guests and all the valued guests of all of our local businesses to know, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. there is still free three-hour business parking,” South Coast Cookhouse wrote.

Drivers do not have to pay when they first park, but they must enter their licence plate number at the parking machine when they arrive.

After three free hours, drivers can pay $2 an hour for up to two more hours. That means the longest daytime stay is five hours between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Keith McTague of Planks Canada told Fort Erie Radio in May that the time limit was meant to keep spaces available for customers visiting the area once known as Hot Dog Alley.

Customers had struggled to find spaces in winter because vehicles were staying too long in the lot, McTague said.

“They probably won’t be able to park 10 steps from the businesses they work at, but they’ll be able to park within a few blocks,” said McTague.

Overnight parking costs $5 between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. A monthly overnight pass costs $125.

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