Palmetto tries to move forward with new parking ordinance
Officials continue to work on a new parking ordinance that is designed to free up parking space restrictions for new development, particularly in the downtown area.
Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant is pushing for the proposed ordinance as part of an overall effort to make downtown more friendly for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“For the next five years, we will be planning that corridor,” said Bryant. “The reason we want to move this forward is because it’s part of the overall planning going on now. This is something we can’t put on the back burner.”
The ordinance would allow developers to re-think downtown development by allowing them to purchase excess parking spaces required by the city’s comprehensive plan. The city is considering about $13,000 a space that would go into a parking trust fund and collected for up to 10 years to then construct a new parking lot within six blocks of the businesses.
I recognize there is a need for this. But we don’t even have a parking analysis yet.”
Palmetto Ward 2 Commissioner Tambra Varnadore
Officials aren’t necessarily on the same page with the potential price of a parking space, however. Both elected officials and staff want more time to review what those costs might actually be.
“I recognize there is a need for this,” said Ward 2 Commissioner Tambra Varnadore. “But we don’t even have a parking analysis yet. ... I don’t know if we have the foundation to implement this.”
What the public wants
Anne Marie Mobley, owner of Palmetto Acupuncture, recently opened her business at 338 10th Ave. W. The business has a driveway to accommodate a couple of vehicles but otherwise shares public parking spaces along the street. To the south of her is a vacant piece of property that if developed, also might be difficult to develop because of parking requirements.
Mobely said right now, there isn’t an issue as she sees two or three patients at a time and is generally closed at the peak operating hours of downtown activity. However, “I understand the city is rapidly changing and growing so parking will eventually become an issue. I’m willing to contribute to the city in any way I can to make it nicer.”
Mark Young: 941-745-7041, @urbanmark2014
This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Palmetto tries to move forward with new parking ordinance."