Oneonta council module debates managed paid parking, parking-permit options for downtown

Oneonta — City staff and councilors spent a module-long discussion Tuesday reviewing downtown parking data, describing a plan to manage high-demand curb and lot spaces through targeted enforcement, market-based pricing and a phased paid-parking program while pursuing short-term private-lot agreements.

Greg, a staff member who led the parking task force presentation, told the council that a recent inventory found about 950 public parking spaces downtown — 288 on-street and 662 off-street — and that recent counts show early-morning occupancy of roughly 25–30% and midday occupancy of about 55–70%. "There is still room. There is still occupancy available," Greg said.

The data underpinning the task force's recommendation matters because residents and business owners say they perceive a shortage during peak times even though the counts show many spaces are unused outside the core high-demand blocks. The policy choices under discussion — removing minimum off-street parking requirements in certain zones, charging for the most desirable curb spaces and reinvesting meter revenue in downtown improvements — are intended to increase turnover where businesses need it most while preserving long-term parking in peripheral lots.

Greg summarized three widely recommended practices: eliminate off-street parking minimums in zoning, implement market-based pricing for high-demand curb spaces, and spend any parking revenue on nearby downtown public services and infrastructure. "We're not trying to ban cars from downtown," he said. "But we also want to have walkable downtown, bikable, easy access to transit." He said the city updated its ME1 zoning code in 2022 and that MU1-style development has benefited from fewer parking minimums.

Councilors and attendees pressed on timing and specifics. Mike, a council member, recommended focusing any first-phase paid parking on high-turnover curb spaces on Main Street and on the Wall Street and Westcott lots while keeping peripheral lots longer-term to serve residents and employees. He suggested experimenting first in a few lots to reduce business pushback.

Katie, a council member, urged caution about near-term rollout because of concurrent downtown construction and a roundabout project. "I would recommend holding up on this until 2026," she said, arguing that implementing paid parking during major Main Street construction could hurt small businesses.

A short-term arrangement described during the meeting would create immediate relief for some employees: a speaker reported securing 35 dedicated parking spaces through an agreement with a church and a private lot to serve county office-building staff, at about $2.50 per day for a five-day rental. The city and county representatives said whether the county will subsidize that cost remains under consideration.

Other ideas discussed included a downtown resident permit for longer-term parking in peripheral lots, short-duration curb spaces for quick errands or deliveries (15–30 minutes), and revenue-sharing or lease arrangements to open underused private lots to public use. Greg said the task force would return with proposed pricing, technology options and timelines to the Quality of Life and Infrastructure committee, targeting a draft plan by the end of the city's first quarter (Greg referenced an April 28 meeting date as a target for a follow-up presentation).

Speakers noted operational trade-offs: stricter enforcement and ticketing have opened high-demand spaces but generated complaints; market pricing could reduce circling and guarantee one or two open spaces per block if adjusted to an 85% occupancy target; and greater multi-modal options and marketing to increase foot traffic are complementary strategies.

The council did not take a formal vote at the meeting. The work-plan items the task force will pursue include more granular counts, outreach to private lot owners for potential revenue-sharing or lease options, pilot pricing in targeted areas, resident-permit design and developing transparent rules for reinvesting any parking revenue.

The discussion closed with agreement to continue refining options and report back. The council also scheduled follow-up conversations with property owners in the Clinton Plaza and other lot operators to address spillover parking pressures.