Proposed downtown parking plan ignites controversy
Local business owners voice objections to Parking Authority’s new proposal
A proposed downtown parking plan has left businesses and residents demanding a better solution to the parking problem, according to comments made at the Lynchburg City Council meeting on Sept. 13.
Confusion — New parking zones create “tremendous confusion” downtown. Photo credit: Tola Adamson-Olaotan
The city’s Parking Authority members, including Parking Manager Norman Hale, attended the meeting to bring clarity about the new parking program and weigh in on the solution’s effectiveness.
According to the Lynchburg Parking Report presented to the council members by Hale, because of increased development in the city, downtown Lynchburg needs to reform its parking program.
The report states that installing on-street parking meters is one way to ensure that there is a wide variety of on-street parking. This will, in turn, support businesses downtown.
Business owners disagree with this remedy. Many fear that making people pay for parking will actually take away business.
“We’ve been getting a lot of complaints from business owners,” Councilman Turner Perrow said at the meeting. “They’re concerned about how it will impact business. I’ve heard a lot of negative (comments) about meters. One of the complaints is that Parking Authority doesn’t understand business.”
The Parking Authority believe that paid parking will actually help businesses. According to the Lynchburg Parking Report, “On-street paid parking will also support current business and economic development downtown while accommodating and promoting area businesses, visitors and shoppers.”
Councilman Jeff Helgeson is against paid parking and even voted against the 2007 Walker Study recommendation for having a Parking Manager to oversee the parking program.
“I think they used to have (parking meters) here in the 70s and in other places in the U.S., and they have taken them out,” Helgeson said. “It’s regressive to go back and put in parking meters.”
Main Street, Church Street and Commerce Street all have on-street parking with a 1 or 2- hour time limit. They have also implemented time zones. The purpose of the time zones is to keep people from moving their car a couple spaces after their time limit is over. Parking Authority wanted to free spaces for other customers.
“There is tremendous confusion about parking zones,” Councilman Hunsdon Cary said. “For instance, if I parked on Ninth street, I couldn’t park there a second time because that would be a violation of the zone. I find that tremendously confusing. A couple of court cases have been thrown out because the judges are confused by it. I’m confused by it.”
Because of confusion and frustration by business owners and people visiting downtown, it is not known yet when a parking plan will be made. Helgeson said the city will take its time to develop the plan.
“We’re not going to be rushing this any time soon, because of some of the changes we have in the economy,” Helgeson said. “If they’re going to spend all this money on renovating downtown, you don’t want to say come downtown, but, oh by the way, if you come downtown, we’re going to nail you every chance we get. Bad mixed message.”