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Planning department seeks $250,000 downtown parking study tied to transit and upcoming city hall project
Summary
Planning and sustainability staff requested a consultant-led downtown parking and policy study (scope and cost $200,000–$250,000 under discussion) to evaluate supply, zoning minimums, paid vs. free parking, and special-event strategies; staff said study timing could align with transit master plan and new city hall opening.
Emily Wright, director of Planning and Sustainability, asked the Budget Finance Committee to fund a downtown parking study estimated at $250,000. Wright said the study would go beyond a supply count to address zoning minimums, paid-versus-free parking policies, special-event parking strategies and potential impacts on nearby residential neighborhoods.
Wright told the committee the study would include robust community outreach and work with downtown business owners and stakeholders to produce policy recommendations for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. “We would really be able to look at what our standards are today, have the community outreach, work with business owners, downtown groups that have an interest in this particular issue,” Wright said. She said the department could consider a scaled scope and suggested $200,000 might produce useful results but that dropping the budget significantly could limit the study’s value.
Committee members and staff discussed timing: some suggested allocating a portion of the cost to hotel‑motel tax funds because parking affects tourism and special events. Officials also noted potential benefits from coordinating the parking study with the transit master plan and the city’s planned new city hall, which is expected to change downtown parking patterns when it opens in 2027.
Board members raised concerns about the $250,000 figure; staff said a nine‑ to 12‑month consultant study is feasible and that phasing or a reduced scope could be considered. Committee members and the Downtown Franklin Association expressed support for a study to resolve recurring variance requests and parking conflicts as downtown development continues.
Ending: Staff recommended keeping the item in play and returning a scope and cost options for committee consideration; no funding decision was made at this meeting.
