City council will turn a long stretch of Dunlop Street in downtown Barrie into a temporary loading-only zone while businesses reopen and the economy is reinvigorated.
From Toronto Street down to Poyntz Street, turning Dunlop Street into a loading zone is expected to improve traffic flow while supporting curbside pickup to help downtown businesses follow government orders and guidelines toward opening up the economy.
The temporary loading zone will remain in place until businesses are permitted to open beyond curbside pickup or a decision is made to move back to enforcing paid parking operations.
The area is also currently undergoing a massive construction project to revitalize the downtown. Parking enforcement has also been relaxed during the COVID-19 health crisis in the city.
The direct motion, which was a late addition to council's agenda and was moved by Coun. Robert Thomson and seconded by Coun. Jim Harris, received unanimous support around the council table.
"I just think it's a tool in the toolbox that we have to use to help the businesses and encourage people that there's a place to park and pick up their orders," Thomson said. "We need to do anything we possibly can to try to accommodate the curbside pickup."
Coun. Sergio Morales said he hopes the move helps change behaviour after COVID-19 is declared over, whenever that may be.
It means people will have to park maybe a block or two away from their destination, he said, possibly even using the Collier Street Parkade more.
"I really hope that behaviour is sticky and becomes permanent," Morales said. "One of the concerns that we have heard since forever is that there is not enough parking downtown.
"The technical answer is yes, we do have enough parking downtown," he added. "It just might not be within five metres of the door (where) you want to go."
Morales said people don't seem to have any issues with walking a short distance in a mall parking lot, for example, but have a different mindset when it comes to downtown.
