Côte-des-Neiges–NDG scales back Sherbrooke West parking meter rollout after public pushback

Following a series of community meetings and two local petitions that quickly gathered more than 1,100 signatures, residents of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) have successfully drawn the attention of public officials, prompting a partial revision of the city’s parking meter plan.

The borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce has announced a significant reduction in the scope of the project along Sherbrooke Street West and surrounding residential streets.

Originally, 447 meters were planned. That number will now be about 250 instead.

Meters will no longer be placed on side streets west of Décarie Boulevard or along a key stretch of Sherbrooke between Grand Boulevard and Beaconsfield Avenue.

Acting mayor Sonny Moroz stated that the changes reflect the city’s willingness to listen to citizens following strong community feedback and organized opposition.

For many residents, this adjustment is a welcome step. Given the area’s density, they had argued that widespread meter installation would negatively affect parking availability for homeowners, tenants, and local businesses that rely on accessible street parking.

Despite this progress, concerns remain. Residents and business owners note that no prior consultation took place before the motion was passed by city council on March 9. Questions also persist about the broader impact of meters along Sherbrooke Street, particularly regarding spillover parking on adjacent residential streets, an issue previously identified by the Agence de mobilité durable de Montréal.

In addition, the city has yet to release the studies used to justify the project, and some critics continue to question whether the projected revenues—earmarked for “beautification, cleanliness, and safety” initiatives—justify the overall cost of installation.

City officials maintain that the revised plan aims to strike a balance between improving parking turnover and supporting local businesses while minimizing disruption to residents. A portion of the revenue generated is expected to fund street improvements in collaboration with the local business association.

Installation is scheduled to begin in mid-May, with meters gradually coming into service in June. A short grace period will be introduced to allow drivers time to adjust before enforcement begins.

In the meantime, residents and merchants say they remain committed to ongoing discussions with the city, emphasizing a desire for greater transparency and collaboration before any further meters are installed along Sherbrooke Street.