Watch: Extended Meter Enforcement Hours Could Be Coming to Columbia
[gtxvideo vid=’ZPcYqGY5′ thumb=’http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/ZPcYqGY5.jpg’ vtitle=’Parking Meter Plan’]
Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) —Regardless of the hour, patrons say parking is always an issue in the commercial areas of Columbia.
General Services Director David Knoche says the city is always looking for ways to alleviate problems with parking.
Extending meter enforcement hours is their latest idea.
Knoche tells ABC Columbia, “Parking is used for turn over for some businesses, that’s the point of the metered spaces. We have areas that we quit enforcing at 6 o’clock at night and then we have people who tend to park over night on the weekends some people will park all weekend long.”
According to Amy Beth Franks, that’s the situation in Five Points. As Executive director of the area’s association she’s in favor of modifying meter times in Five Points.
This is the area where the first changes would be implemented.
“Cars are being left from the night before and that’s effecting our early morning business… our coffee places, our breakfast places, our brunch places,” says Franks.
Michael Duganier, owner of area restaurant and brunch spot Publico, says he can see how the changes could encourage customers.
According to Duganier, “It might turn traffic a little easier, maybe more traffic would be opening up it could be helpful but it also could be negative to some.”
Kristian Niemi owner of Bourbon on Main Street is one of those people. He explains that longer enforcement hours will only amplify an already inadequate situation
“If anything it would drive customers away from coming downtown if they knew they had to find a parking place and then feed the meter and then run back out from their meal to feed the meter again which is technically illegal to do. I just makes no sense,” says Niemi.
City officials say they are still in the early planning stages of this process.
Recommendations will be made to Council on September 20th and there will be time for open discussion at a later date.
