Saugeen Shores Council has given final approval to a new parking by-law for the town.
The new by-law replaces three old by-laws for Port Elgin, Southampton, and Saugeen Township.
Mayor Mike Smith says it is one of the last by-laws to be merged together since amalgamation.
Councillor Diane Huber is concerned the law doesn’t spell out ways of dealing with those who use municipal parking lots as illegal campsites.
Public Works Director Bill Jones says parks by-laws are being examined to see if they address the issue.
An amendment introduced by Councillor Luke Charbonneau would have seen parking on Goderich Street in Port Elgin set at a three hour limit instead of two.
Charbonneau says he talked with the head of the BIA who believes three hours gives customers more time to take care of business, using the length of time it takes to get a perm at a beauty salon as an example.
Charbonneau’s amendment was defeated and the motion was adopted in its original form.
Smith says the best plan was to get the new by-law in place, and the by-law will likely be amended whenever needed in the future.
He says council and committees are likely open to looking at the parking time limit issue again.
Smith says the Fire Chief still has to name designated fire routes the law will regulate.
He says when those are designated, it could be the right time to make further amendments.