Key Points:
• City officials presented a plan on Oct. 27 that would offer time-restricted parking in downtown Tucker.
• Available parking spots will increase with the opening of the Tucker Town Green next month.
• City council members posed questions about how the plan could impact downtown workers.
Tucker residents may soon find it more convenient to park in downtown, as city officials consider time restrictions to make space more accessible.
During the Oct. 27 Tucker City Council meeting, Micah Seibel, assistant to the city manager, presented his findings after surveying downtown business owners, along with a new study of Tucker’s available parking. A 2025 study showed that there was additional public right of way that could be utilized by the city, leading to city-run parking increasing from 298 spots to 325 spots in time for the long-awaited Tucker Town Green, which opens on Nov. 14.
The new plan presented Monday suggests designating 70 parking spots, adjacent to Main Street between LaVista Road and Lawrenceville Highway, as time-restricted. The parking spots would be restricted to four hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Seibel said. Violating the time restriction would come with a $75 fine.
“Public feedback is always important. So, you know, we have done surveys in the past,” Seibel said. “So far in the 2025 survey, we’ve spoken with eight [business owners] and had these sort of long-term discussions, and already in this round of discussions, we’ve had seven in favor of time-restricted parking.”
Owners at businesses, including Georgia Gifts & More, Heart & Soul Vet, Las Colinas, Nicky’s Undefeated, and Local 7, agreed to the parking plan. The latest expansion of parking is one of many efforts to improve parking downtown, including a parking lease agreement with PNC Bank during its off-hours and a 2024 agreement with Main Street Church that added 103 new parking spots during certain hours.
Parking has been an ongoing issue in Tucker’s downtown, so District 1’s Virginia Rece applauded Seibel and his team for coming up with creative solutions, noting that a previous plan for a parking garage could have cost the city $15 million. Still, she and District 2’s Cara Schroeder had concerns about how business owners and employees would be able to comply with the time-restricted parking spots.
“I think four hours is really generous to get folks that chance to go to two, you know, two or three different places or whatever,” Rece said. “But what I am thinking about is the employee that will need to find other spots and move on, and if we put in the restrictions before we have offered those solutions, [it] could be a little bit of a snafu.”
Seibel suggested that downtown employees consider taking advantage of Church Street parking and other public parking that would be a walk about “2 ½ blocks from their jobs.”
The time-restricted parking would be marked with white paint at each spot, Seibel said. There would also be signage at each end of the parking islands to ensure patrons are aware of the restrictions.
No vote was taken on the plan at the meeting, but a formal ordinance for the time-restricted parking is in the works. Schroeder and other council members suggested city officials continue community engagement on the plan with downtown business owners and community members.
Related stories:
• Update: Tucker residents weigh in on 7 Brew Coffee zoning plans
• Tucker City Council extends open-container entertainment district to town green
Other Tucker City Council updates:
● After executive session, council approved the purchase of a 1.925 million property at 4840 Hammermill Rd. for a public works facility. The lease for the current facility will end in June 2026 and cannot be renewed, according to Mayor Frank Auman. The building will be financed over 15 years.
● Council unanimously approved the purchase and installation of ADA playground equipment at Fitzgerald Park. Bliss Products was awarded a $250,000 contract to install the the playground equipment.
● Council considered the first read and public hearing of an ordinance to rezone and approve three concurrent variances for townhomes, with garages, parking, and setback regulations, located at 4372 Chamblee Tucker Rd. The second read for that ordinance with staff recommendations is expected Nov. 10.
