The mayor of the municipality of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Pierre Lessard-Blais, confirms that the 1974 law prohibiting certain residents from parking in front of their garage entrance is still legal.
• Also read: Montreal: Valérie Plante ready to review ordinance banning cars in her driveway
• Also read: The city bans cars in its driveways
• Also read: Parking signs: Montreal also wants to stop not understanding anything
Martine Corbeil, a resident of Rue Place de Boucherville, condemned the inaction of the Plante administration during Monday’s city council. She called for this rule to be changed or even for an exception to be granted.
“What will your government do to emerge from its democratic immobility and correct the absurdity of which we are victims?” she asked elected officials.
Last January, residents of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve denounced an ordinance that forbids them to park their car in the entrance at the front of their apartment, Le Journal reported.
In August, they were mailed a notice of the existence of this 1974 ordinance, prohibiting them from parking at their location because their garage had been converted into a dwelling.
Parking in front of it is forbidden in several districts, and not just in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Mr Lessard-Blais recalls.
“There is one exception in the district. If you have a garage you have the right to park in front of it. That exception was there, and when people worked without a permit by getting rid of their garage, they lost that acquired right,” he explained.
“The reasons for passing the regulation in 1974 are still valid. New reasons have been added,” the mayor replied to a question from another resident of the sector.
Mr Lessard-Blais specifically mentioned the need to protect greenery on private property. He also judges that there is enough parking space on the street.