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Windsor city council voted to remove retail stores from the ground level of the Pelissier Street parking garage and restore 42 parking spaces at a marathon meeting Monday night.

The vote came after more than four hours of debate and presentations by urban planners, business people, and an original designer of the garage, among others.

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An emotional Larry Horwitz, chairman of the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Area, was visibly upset at the end of the meeting.

“Council made a terrible decision and went against its official plan, by allowing a theme street to become a parking lot,” said Horwitz.

“It is an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars to pay $500,000 for parking that is not needed and there is no report to prove the demand. Therefore I am extremely disappointed and I have lost confidence in this council.”

Coun. Rino Bortolin brought forward a motion that would allow the city to explore all options for the space with a real estate agent. That motion was voted down and Coun. Fred Francis brought forward a motion to restore the parking spots, which was supported by Mayor Drew Dilkens and councillors John Elliot, Hilary Payne, Jo-Anne Gignac, Paul Borrelli and Ed Sleiman.