Does Downtown Need Parking Meters?

[RiversideGator]

I especially like the meter on Monroe Street which gives you 15 minutes per quarter (instead of the stated 30 minutes).  Of course there is the meter on Bay Street which always shows time available.  I guess the City giveth and the City taketh away.   

[Lunican]

I like the parking meters in front of a fire hydrant.

[downtownjag]

As a downtown resident, I have personally blasted every official for the city I can think of about this issue.  I spend plenty of time telling people how great it is here which is all in vain when they come out to their car and there is green ticket on it.  The two parking patrolmen, who are just doing their jobs, post up out front of our building just before eight every morning and wait till the clock strikes eight to start ticketing.  I know, or at least believe, that DVI is against parking meters as it disrupts everything they are working hard to accomplish.  And without throwing too much mud, a quick google of Bob will show you just how qualified he is to be calling the shots with something as influencial as parking.  

?  Whats up with Bob?

Bob Carle is credited with the idea of extending the parking restrictions.  Everyone here is very aware how that affects the downtown businesses and I believe that those decisions should be left to someone with some degree in urban planning, which he doesn't have.  I hate to seem so negative towards someone I haven't met, because chances are he is a nice guy.  Unfortunately, his ideas would make me and a lot of other people out of luck.

[downtownjag]

It seems that a good compromise for both parties would be to allow the infrastructure of the meters to stay, but make the meters free. It would be only a slight change from the current system. This would allow a person to park for free, but also keep them mindful of the time they have stayed in a spot.

-Anthony
WhatsUpJacksonville.com

Are there any towns that do that?

[civil42806]

I like the parking meters in front of a fire hydrant.

Hey its win win as far as the city goes, if you park and don't feed the meter you get a ticket and if you do feed the meter you get a ticket.  Expect the city to start putting fake fire hydrants all over town.  But seriously why in the world would you enforce the meters after 5 and on weekends.  In savannah after 5 its free parking

[urbanlibertarian]

Instead of having minimum or maximum parking requirements why not just let the property owner or developer decide for themselves?  That should go for density, use and setback as well.  Let private property rights and local market forces determine these things.

[apvbguy]

Instead of having minimum or maximum parking requirements why not just let the property owner or developer decide for themselves?  That should go for density, use and setback as well.  Let private property rights and local market forces determine these things.

when private property owners own the streets then they can determine the parking regs. In the core the city owns the streets, in places like strip malls the property owners control the parking regs

[urbanlibertarian]

I was referring to requirements for developments on private property.  The developers or property owners should be able to provide as much or as little parking as they believe potential buyers or tenants will want not what the city decides is appropriate.
As for meters I can see how the city would be reluctant to give up a source of revenue after the recent property tax cuts but one would think that increased commercial activity would make up for that.

[apvbguy]

I was referring to requirements for developments on private property.  The developers or property owners should be able to provide as much or as little parking as they believe potential buyers or tenants will want not what the city decides is appropriate.
As for meters I can see how the city would be reluctant to give up a source of revenue after the recent property tax cuts but one would think that increased commercial activity would make up for that.

sorry to disagree, but rational planning methods require plans for the impact of the cars any new development will attract, for example a 100 seat restaurant will need close to 50 spaces put a few of those on on city block without adequate parking and you have a logistical nightmare, while I understand the free market principles behind your thinking, in the real world it just is poor planning 

[urbanlibertarian]

Fewer regulations and requirements make economic development easier.  I don't think that government understands what will make businesses and developments successful as well as business people and developers.

[apvbguy]

Fewer regulations and requirements make economic development easier.  I don't think that government understands what will make businesses and developments successful as well as business people and developers.

easier is not better, government has an interest in fostering successful businesses but that is only a part of governments job, which also encompasses the needs of all concerns, not just businesses looking to exploit their location

[urbanlibertarian]

Do you mean "exploit" as in make productive use of?  Sounds like a good thing.

[jimone]

I drove my disabled boss downtown to attend a zoning violation meeting last week. The meeting held in city Hall was mandatory and I parked as close as I could to CH so when we came out, he would not need to walk far. I deposited the max of two quarters in the meter and stuck in a third just in case, hoping the meter guard would turn the handle for me. we were 15 minutes late in returning, had the ticket and no one turned the handle til I did to show my boss I had tried to take care of the late situation. In today's economy $1 per minute inflicted on the citizenry seems a little unjustified just to get nearby parking. But, it is always the little guy who gets kicked in the teeth.

[Joe]

in places like strip malls the property owners control the parking regs

Sorry to respond to a 4 month old comment, but the above statement is one of the biggest misconceptions in the entire field of land use regulation. The nature of suburban parking is NOT controlled by private developers.

In places like strip malls, the government still completely controls the size, type, and quantity of parking spaces. They control it just as completely as in an urban setting, if not more so.

[uptowngirl]

I hate meters, but I hate searching for a damn parking space more.

I went to the library yesterday to return a mega load of books, I have to hike it from the north forty (two cop cars parked in spots in front of the library but not harrassing or moving anyone from the front of the library or Hemming Plaza!) with 40lbs of books. I also had to feed a meter where I did park and fight off three different homeless dudes begging for money. I told them I had none, they said they would take change, I said I had none, they said I was feeding the meter with change.... well DUH!!!!  Then I had to weave my way through the additional homeless outside the library doors (not asking for money thank God!), drop my books off, weave my way through some more homeless inside the library to pick up some new books, and then start the process back to my car......Brentwood Library is looking better and better all the time. I am about to give up on Downtown...I mean really I feel like I am fighting a losing battle with limited 'friendlies" on my side....