Various “test programs” will soon be implemented to resolve ongoing issues of parking in downtown Clarkesville.
The programs, which will be enforced by downtown merchants, came from input Clarkesville Councilman Brad Coppedge gathered from business and property owners during two public forums held in September.
Clarkesville has a total of almost 600 parking spaces in and around the city, with about 88 on the square and nearly 500 (off-square) along the perimeter of the downtown area.
Coppedge delivered his findings to fellow council members at a work session Monday, Oct. 7. The test programs given the green light to proceed from October to December include:
- Downtown property owners and retailers require tenants and employees to park in one of the five perimeter parking lots.
- Downtown signage showing 12 “free public parking” signs to replace the city’s municipal parking signs.
- Designated parking spaces allocated to businesses that offer takeout (namely Your Pie), in addition to an appointment-only parking space in front of Pets Unleashed.
- Request property owners to direct upstairs tenants to park behind the buildings (if available).
- Add white markers to unmarked parking spots.
- Direct all 18-wheeler delivery trucks to park on Water Street.
Reception
Coppedge went on to float the idea of a parking study that he said could be conducted at no-cost by an institution like the University of Georgia.
Coppedge’s presentation was well-received by city officials, though Councilwoman Angelia Kiker cautioned against an item that proposed the elimination of one handicap parking space in both downtown areas.
“I think you did a fantastic job,” Kiker said. “I think it might be a mistake to eliminate handicap spots because of (Clarkesville’s) population.”
Clarkesville’s median age is just over 47, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and city officials agreed not to proceed with that specific item.
City Manager Keith Dickerson said he favored the proposals because they’re self-enforced by design.
“I like the fact that the merchants are the ones keeping an eye on it,” Dickerson said. “I think that’s the way it works. It’s a lose-lose proposition for the city to try and enforce. If we can make it easier for people to get in and out of there, it’s just going to make it a lot better for everyone.”
Coppedge, who led the effort alongside Main Street Director Colby Moore, said a closer look at parking in Clarkesville was long overdue.
“It was time to do it,” Coppedge said. “Anytime I would engaged retailers and property owners, the conversation would always come back to parking…this is not us as a city trying to put out some kind of ordinance. But I think when the dialogue started with (property owners), it was pretty obvious where most of the issues were: managing the tenants and the employees with not parking in the downtown area.”
