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City Council Wants Input On Short North Parking Plans

Columbus City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Wednesday concerning changes to parking rules for the Short North. Jim Letizia reports.  

The city is attempting to get public comment its plan to divide streets in the Short North and surrounding neighborhoods into residential permit zones. The city also wants to charge people to park on a street and change the way drivers pay to park. The draft plan is still months away from being finalized, and comes from the work a consultant who completed a parking study in 2015. Under the plan, every road in the Short North except High Street and some around Goodale Park would be placed in one of eight parking districts. Residents would be able to purchase up to two permits for 50 dollars each. Permit parking restrictions on most streets would not be in place 24 hours a day. Streets in the core of the district would be pay-to-park, whether or not a meter is present. The city likely would erect kiosks or charge drivers through a cellphone app. Parking rates would vary based on time of day, and would be higher than in the district's parking garages. Council is scheduled vote on the parking zone portion next week. The city plans to enact a two-year pilot program in 2018 to test its plan before making it permanent. It's not clear how the additional revenue would be spent, but options include subsidizing parking, bus passes or alternative transportation for people who work at area businesses. The public hearing is scheduled for 5 pm at City Hall. 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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