Lot closure upsets York St. merchant

Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
At least one York Street business owner is concerned about parking lot closures for the Savour Stratford culinary festival on Sept. 20-21.

The York Street parking lot is expected to be closed to traffic on the Saturday to prepare for an event being held in the lot the following day.

In a letter to city council, Susie Palach of York Street Kitchen said though she is pleased to be participating in the festival, she is disappointed the parking lot is being shut down for an entire day before it is needed.

“To have the parking lot empty all day simply to prepare for the next day’s event will have a detrimental impact on the businesses of York and Ontario streets and create chaos in the core on a day that is still within peak season,” wrote Palach.

She suggested the lot be closed at 5 p.m. on Saturday and night lights used to make it possible for organizers to set up for the upcoming events.

Palach said she is frustrated that the Stratford Tourism Alliance has not responded to her concerns and said Eugene Zakreski, STA executive director, has refused to meet with the York Street Association.

In another letter to the Stratford Tourism Alliance, which was also distributed to council, she suggests a shuttle could be provided from the Falstaff School lot.

Coun. Frank Mark moved a motion to reconsider, which would have allowed council to limit how long the lot could be closed. The motion was defeated.