IT'S KILLING THE BUSINESSES HENDERSONVILLE ADJUSTS PARKING PROGRAM AMID PUBLIC OUTCRY

The city of Hendersonville began a paid parking program in March that included downtown streets, lots and the new parking deck.

Assistant city manager Brian Pahle told News 13 in June that while the program had been generating good revenue numbers the parking changes were impacting people from a user experience.

He said the city’s goal was to always have parking spaces available but that won’t happen if it’s always free.

But, in an effort to make it easier on drivers, city officials looked into altering some of the program, which brought them to Wednesday’s city council meeting.

Council members discussed parking changes and parking ordinance amendments.

Clarify that up to three license plates may be assigned to a city monthly parking permit
Clarify that of the three license plates assigned only one vehicle may be parked in the permitted parking facilities
Allowing the city manager to invoke the flat rate parking fee for special events, holidays or any other time when needed
Changing the increments for billing for paid parking to 15 minutes for on-street paid parking and 30 minutes for surface lots and the parking deck
Removing the 30-minute time limit for parking on Main Street
Making it a misdemeanor and adopting a $500 penalty for people climbing or sitting on the walls of the parking deck

The majority of parking violations will drop from $50 to $25.

Still, there were some residents at the council meeting who were not happy about the parking situation.

“It’s killing the businesses. The pay-to-park is killing the businesses on Main Street," one local resident said.

Mayor Barbara Volk read a comment submitted by another resident who said they were going to stop going to Hendersonville and go to more visitor-friendly towns.

“It seems that growth and greed combine to destroy the very things that make a city vital and interesting to visitors,” Volk read.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOShttps://wlos.com/news/local/its-killing-the-businesses-hendersonville-adjusts-parking-program-amid-public-outcry-city-council-main-street#