Key Points:
• City officials are still tweaking the plan to designate parking spaces with time limitations in downtown Tucker.
• Several suggestions were made about reducing the parking fine and time limit.
• The average parking time in downtown Tucker is around 119 minutes.
During Tucker City Council’s Nov. 10 meeting, Tucker residents and city council members asked city staff to pump the brakes on its plan for downtown parking time restrictions.
The council considered the first read of an ordinance to amend traffic and vehicle codes relating to public parking, presented by Micah Seibel, assistant to the city manager. Both council members and residents offered edits to the proposed plans during the Nov. 10 meeting, which stretched more than four hours with debates about zoning and the parking plans.
The current parking proposal seeks to designate 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.
Tucker resident Kermit Hairston told the council amendments should be made to the time limit and the fine, noting that the time limit should be two hours and the fine shouldn’t exceed $50. Hairston said that employee parking is one of the main headaches for those visiting Main Street.
“Parking can’t be addressed unless we address the issues of employees also parking downtown,” Hairston said. “I don’t know how many of us have been to a professional’s office, a doctor or lawyer’s office, and an employee is parked right in front of the door.”
Seibel said the plan can be customized, so the city is open to adjust the fine, time limits, and other aspects of the ordinance. The time, in particular, is flexible, since a study showed that four hours is generous, since the average downtown parking time is around 119 minutes.
Mayor Frank Auman said the calls for a lower fine might defeat the purpose. With a lower fine, a downtown visitor might decide “‘I’ll take my chances,'” he said.
“We don’t want to collect fees,” Auman said. “We just want them to comply.”
District 3, Post 1’s Alexis Weaver pointed out that remote workers in downtown might respond better to paying an extra fee for parking longer than four hours, but Seibel said options like parking fees and tiered parking would require more investment and a “little bit more file-keeping.”
City staff will offer more on the cost of the current parking plan and take another look at the suggestions provided before the next read of the ordinance on Dec. 8. Residents will also have an opportunity to chime in during the city’s Meetup on Main next month, Seibel said.
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:
● The first read and public hearing of an ordinance for a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP-25-0003) for an automobile repair & maintenance business at 3893 Lavista Rd. for applicant April Miller/Halle Properties was met with disdain. Some residents including Patrice Cosby implored District 2 council members to deny the application. “Please, by all means, do not give us another tire shop,” she said during public comment.
● Council decided to defer a decision on the Special Land Use Permit (SLUP-25-0002) to allow for a massage establishment to operate within Northlake Mall in Suite 2033 until the Dec. 8 meeting.
Members of the council have deliberated on how to move forward with sidewalk plans and approve the SLUP, since the business owner disputes the permit requirement to pay for sidewalk and other pedestrian improvements. Council members said they would like to make their decision with both the massage business owner and Northlake Mall owner present to answer key questions.
● Council approved an ordinance for a rezoning (RZ-25-0002) to allow for townhomes and concurrent variances (CV-25-0004, CV-25-0005, CV-25-0006) to garage, parking, and setback regulations at 4372 Chamblee Tucker Road
