Brampton, July 24: Brampton City Council is exploring new parking regulations around the Mount Pleasant GO Station after local businesses raised concerns that all-day commuter parking is leaving few spaces available for customers visiting nearby shops and the community library.
At its meeting on July 8, Council unanimously approved a motion directing city staff to review the issue and recommend possible solutions, including enhanced parking regulations and enforcement measures.
The motion was introduced by Wards 2 and 6 Councillor Navjit Kaur Brar, who said she and Regional Councillor Michael Palleschi have received numerous complaints from business owners in the Mount Pleasant Village area.
According to Brar, commuters using the GO Transit station are frequently parking for extended periods along Commuter Drive and Bleasdale Avenue, streets intended primarily to serve customers of nearby businesses and visitors to the Mount Pleasant Library and Mount Pleasant Village Community Centre.
“There are ongoing issues in the Mount Pleasant area where residents who are using the GO Station are parking in areas that are for the patrons of the shops around the Mount Pleasant Library,” Brar told council.
She said the shortage of available parking has discouraged customers from visiting local businesses, creating frustration among store owners.
The area surrounding the Mount Pleasant GO Station includes a mix of residential neighbourhoods, retail establishments and community facilities.
Although GO Transit provides a large commuter parking lot adjacent to the station, along with an overflow parking lot on Salvation Drive, some commuters continue to park on nearby municipal streets, occupying spaces for up to eight hours each day.
Brar told council that she and Councillor Palleschi have visited the area several times to meet with business owners and residents.
She noted that while alternative commuter parking is available within walking distance of the station, nearby on-street parking is often fully occupied throughout the workday.
Business owners are reportedly preparing a petition requesting council introduce stricter parking controls to ensure customer parking remains available.
In response, council has instructed city staff to conduct a new survey of businesses in the area and report back with recommendations.
The review will examine potential options, including revised parking regulations, time limits and increased parking enforcement.
Brar noted that a similar consultation had been conducted previously, but many businesses have since changed ownership, making an updated assessment necessary.
She emphasized that supporting local businesses remains a priority for council.
“We do support our businesses and want them to thrive,” Brar said during the meeting.
City staff are expected to return to council at a future meeting with findings from the business survey and recommendations aimed at improving parking availability while balancing the needs of commuters, residents and local businesses.