The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
New parking fees, regs stir controversy
New fines for exceeding posted parking limit set at $25
By Rodney Smith, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: July 21, 2005
The wife of a prominent restauranteur recently received a $25 fine for overstaying her meter, and in the letter that accompanied her check, she raised an important issue about downtown parking and how it affects business in the city.
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In a flurry of email sparked by the protest, Linda French, owner of the Sidetrack wrote, "I know that parking isn't a 'pretty or artsy' issue but it is...[an] issue that needs to be addressed. As uptown starts to get going the parking issue will just get worse...it will be hard to recruit successful businesses if there is not adequate parking."
Local businessman Steve Pierce, in the same e-mail exchange, drew attention to the fact that premium parking is often occupied by other business owners and employees, making it difficult for customers to find satisfactory parking. Pierce was calling for businesses to set a higher standard for themselves and their employees if they want things to improve.
The $25 fee came as a surprise because, at the March 8 council meeting where all other fee increases were set, a motion by council members John Gawlas and Barry LaRou that the $15 increase, characterized as excessive, be postponed until after a public meeting on the parking issue.
The increase was subsequently passed without further comment along with the city budget in June.
The original protest also made reference to the reconstruction process currently making a mess of the downtown area.
Jennifer Goulet of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority explained that he development, due for completion in the Fall, was delayed by water main improvements and the discovery of" some unexpected basement vaults."
YDDA has distributed flyers with alternative parking information to businesses and public locations in the downtown area.
Addressing the question of other changes proposed for downtown parking Goulet explained that "When the N. Huron lot is completed, the dynameter will be back in operation. No new meters are planned. However, the CBC and YDDA will be holding a joint meeting this summer to make recommendations on parking policies for consideration to City Council. No meter limits will be changed until this dialogue takes place."
The Depot Town Association held a similar meeting on July 20.
During construction alternative parking arrangements include: free 30-minute parking for customers on Pearl and Ferris between Huron and Washington; free parking in the non-metered spaces in the N. Washington Street lot (thanks to EMU); normal parking terms in the S. Huron and Adams parking lots, and general metered parking on side streets.
Residents who purchase a downtown parking permit that normally use the N. Huron lot also were given the opportunity to park overnight on the block of N. Huron just north of Michigan Avenue, except when marked for periodic street cleaning.
The Ypsilanti DDA can be contacted at 734-482-1410 during regular business hours for more information.
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