Members of the city council and the Planning Commission met last week for a joint workshop to discuss parking problems. Planning had conducted a survey in 2022 to look for answers and opinions on the parking situation in some neighborhoods. In addition to upper Spring Street, commissioners focused on Owen, Mountain, and Elk streets.
Spring Street was selected as a pilot program, and an ordinance was passed in early 2023 to create a residential parking district on upper Spring. That ordinance was repealed in early July 2024, bringing the search for solutions back to square one.
At the July 24 workshop, Planning Chair Susan Harman recapped the commission’s efforts. She described a mailed survey but noted that many of those surveys went to absent property owners rather than actual residents. The principal problem identified by the survey focused on multi-family dwellings and bed-and-breakfast operations.
Bridgeford House, a B&B at 263 Spring St., was frequently mentioned during the workshop. Harman brought up some problems encountered with previous owners, including the illegal operation of ghost tours. The current owner had advertised for ghost tours, but a warning letter halted those plans. The current owner also hosted a large reception, although the property does not have a permit for special events.
Harman explained that choosing Spring Street for the initial parking ordinance did not specifically target businesses. She said the ordinance required businesses with off-street parking to use that parking. Additional hang-tags would be available for businesses to allow their guests to park on the street.
“If any of you had a business on Spring Street, each and every one would be upset if the city came in and said, ‘You can’t do that anymore,’” Harman said as she explained the accommodations in place to protect established businesses.
In the absence of an ordinance, Harman said advisory signs might still help. “Do we want to be good neighbors?” she asked.
“We’re trying to come up with solutions,” Mayor Butch Berry, who presided over the workshop, said. He noted that city ordinances require B&Bs and tourist lodging to have off-street parking, but there is no provision to require their patrons to use that parking. Alderman Steve Holifield said a B&B owner might be required to have three off-street parking spaces, but he could park antique cars there and tell his visitors to park on the street.
The city may amend ordinances to require the use of off-street parking, although alderman Terry McClung said city attorney Forrest Jacobi has reservations about the legality of that proposal.
Harman suggested another survey, to see if residents actually want restrictions on parking. Others at the table agreed with the concept of re-assessing the need for a parking ordinance.
Holifield asked about the mechanics of Conditional-Use Permits. Commissioner Ann Tandy-Sallee said the status of grandfathered properties transfers automatically to a new owner, but a CUP must be reconsidered upon the sale of a property. A prospective buyer may come before the commission to request approving the transfer of a CUP before purchasing a property. Harman said the transfer of a CUP is usually routine, although objections from 20 percent of neighbors would prevent extending a CUP.
Berry brought the discussion back to basics, asking for a recommendation from Planning. Commissioner Michael Welch said any solution should not rely on police enforcement. “We don’t want to burden the police department,” he said. “It’s not a responsible usage of the police to monitor parking.” Tandy-Sallee said the original ordinance was mainly targeted for evenings and weekends. She also said most problems would disappear if B&Bs and multi-family locations would use off-street parking.
A variety of questions for the Municipal League were suggested, including the possibility of removing a property’s grandfathered status because of an addition to a structure.
Tandy-Sallee suggested asking the police chief to attend an upcoming Planning Commission meeting.