Parking issues in Clarkesville’s downtown square are under review, and the city is now seeking public input for potential solutions.
For the last month, city officials have held a series of “parking policy review sessions” that will continue from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at Clarkesville City Hall.
The city invites retailers, property owners and members of the general public to provide input that could increase needed consumer traffic, free-up additional parking spots and improve business revenues.
The meeting will begin with a list of key downtown parking issues identified by Councilman Brad Coppedge and other city officials over a 6-month period. Attendees will be given a 2-minute period to discuss their parking concerns and potential solutions.
The review sessions will serve as a foundation for Coppedge and Clarkesville Main Street Director Colby Moore to develop a plan and certain parking policy changes that could be voted on later this year.
To be added to the list of speakers at Monday’s meeting, email Coppedge at [email protected].
Moore told Now Habersham in mid-September that new public parking signs will soon be ordered to direct visitors to three off-square parking areas. He said the city has asked downtown employees and staff to park in “off-square areas” to leave “prime locations for customers and visitors.”
He added that “longer-term solutions may include a parking study or new ordinances” and that city officials “will continue working together with our businesses to make downtown Clarkesville a great place to shop, work, and live.”
Veterans parking
Earlier this year, Clarkesville’s City Council approved a total of six parking places to be reserved for veterans in the downtown area – three for Purple Heart recipients and three for all veterans.
Two of those spaces were placed in slots by Clarkesville’s War Memorial. The other two were reserved for slots in a parking lot near the Clarkesville Police Department off Madison Street and two more across from the Copper Pot off Grant Street.
