Resident pitches restoring Clarksville town square; asks county to study feasibility

A Clarksville resident and town planner asked Habersham County commissioners on March 17 to support a study into restoring the town's historic square by creating paired civic greens and altering Washington Street.

Lou Oliver said he presented two options to the Georgia Department of Transportation and that one option ("option B") appeared feasible to GDOT. His concept would create two linear park areas in the center of downtown, improve pedestrian safety with bollards or low walls, and host civic events currently requiring closure of the parking lot. Oliver said the preferred scheme would remove approximately 36 on-street parking spaces but that the plan includes a requirement that an equal number of parking spaces be provided in the same construction phase, for example by a parking deck built on city- or county-owned parcels.

Oliver read a draft resolution asking Habersham County to urge the county manager, in conjunction with the city manager, to coordinate departments and GDOT to conduct traffic and feasibility studies. He named potential replacement parking parcels (176 Bridge St., 603 Monroe St., 129 Water St.) and said the feasibility of the project is contingent on replacing the removed spaces in the same construction phase.

Commissioners thanked Oliver for the presentation, asked for time to coordinate with the city and county attorneys, and said staff would review the drawings. No formal action was taken; commissioners indicated they would consider the request and coordinate with the city before any decisions.

Oliver asked commissioners not to act without ensuring equal replacement parking and emphasized safety improvements for downtown events. The proposal will proceed as staff and city officials review feasibility and legal issues.