Members of the Area Plan Commission say an Evansville city council ordinance to change parking requirements in parts of the city needs some rethinking.
The ordinance drops the mandate that a proposed business submit a parking map to the Plan Commission.
Current city zoning code requires that off-street parking be installed with new development, and it sets other parking standards. The ordinance was originally designed to boost growth Downtown, but West Franklin Street and North Main Street have been added to the measure.
Area Plan Commission Director Ron London tells the Evansville Courier and Press that he’s concerned about the new rules applying only to retail, restaurants, nightclubs and bars and similar businesses -- and not to offices, banks and other commercial uses.
London also says adding West Franklin and North Main creates new issues, because streets adjacent to those corridors are residential, and most of those residents use on-street parking.
Councilman Dan Adams is suggesting the parking ordinance be rewritten as three separate ordinances, reflecting the unique dynamics of Downtown, West Franklin, and North Main.