MONTREAL - Parking meters are popping up all over the Plateau, even in some semi-residential areas.
People who share their streets with businesses aren't happy, but the city says it's looking for more revenue.
Locals like Gino Radic, however, are upset with the new meters.
"These meters should only be downtown like Mount Royal and Ste. Catherine," he said.
Parking meters are now on streets like St. Viateur, where he's lived for 16 years, and finds himself in a jam.
Unfortunately, there's no relief in sight and the city says it needs the revenue
"Now there is just $1 out of $3 that the taxpayers are paying that is actually going back to the borough," said Luc Ferrandez, the borough mayor.
"That's not enough- we need to find the money somewhere else-and the somewhere else is meters."
Radic argues that streets like St. Viateur and Fairmount near St Laurent are resident, and should be parking meter free.
But the city says that's not true: they've done the math and most people who park there are visitors.
"We never do this if there is more than 30% of the people who are parked there --so on all streets where we have put this--the number of visitors were higher than the number of residents,"
For shops and businesses, the meters are bitter sweet.
"For the people that live in the area it hurts, I'm sure it hurts because I hear their complaints every day," said business owner Jay Lucifero.
Meanwhile, the parking woes continue as the city admits to selling more permits than they can handle.
In the fall, the borough will launch a pilot project, where permit holders who pay $70 a year can park in meter spots at no extra cost.
