The City of Columbus is accepting public comment through June 29 on its proposal to limit public parking on some streets in the Schumacher Place and Southern Orchards neighborhoods near Children's Hospital.
The plan includes permit parking and time restrictions. Alison Holm has more.
Area residents say some workers are parking in their neighborhoods rather than in the hospital's lots and garages. The residents say that is leaving little or no space to park their own vehicles. Under the city's proposal, residents living in proposed parking zones would be eligible to purchase one parking permit per licensed driver for a 25 dollar annual fee. Low-income residents would be eligible to purchase 10 dollar permits. Guest permits would also cost 25 dollars annually. A maximum of 300 one day permits per household per year would be available for purchase at 2 dollars each. The city also wants to place time limits for parking on some streets. One proposal places a three-hour limit on parking to run between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. Another would set those time limits to run between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Permit holders would be exempt. A hospital spokesperson says it discourages workers from using the streets, noting employees currently pay a fee to park at garages and lots. Once the public comment period is complete, the city says it will notify residents of a final plan in August and enforcement will begin in November.