Traffic & Parking Commission approves paid parking at 10 locations, lowers Whites Creek Pike speed limit and defers driveway appeal

The Traffic & Parking Commission approved a slate of routine and location‑specific actions at its meeting, including the adoption of paid parking at multiple downtown and near‑downtown blocks, a reduced posted speed limit on a segment of Whites Creek Pike, and an indefinite deferral of a driveway connection appeal for a development along that corridor.

The commission approved consent items including the revocation of existing valet permits at 1920 Acadia Street and multiway‑stop authorizations requested by NDOT at Robertson Avenue & James/Westborough Drive and Ewing Drive & Wynn and Wood Drive. The commission also approved the meeting minutes at the start of the session.

The commission authorized new paid parking at 10 locations (items listed below) with enforcement described as 24/7 in the CPD area. NDOT staff told commissioners the paid parking in the CPD/SoBro corridors aligns with the downtown enforcement schedule and the rates and time bands the department adopted last year (hourly structure with a maximum daily cap). Several commissioners asked whether any of the locations were appropriate for the city’s designated “economy” parking tier; staff said economy zones are intended for lower‑demand areas and that one parcel under discussion (Middleton Street) is currently heavily used and may not qualify.

The commission approved a two‑hour daytime parking limit on Lindsey Avenue (between Second Avenue South and Hermitage Avenue) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; after 4 p.m. the street is unregulated and free to park.

On Whites Creek Pike the commission approved NDOT’s recommendation to lower the posted speed limit from 40 to 35 miles per hour on a roughly half‑mile segment between West Trinity Lane and West Nocturne Drive. NDOT told the commission the reduction follows a speed study using federal speed‑setting methodology and that the required stopping/sight‑distance standard for a right‑turn driveway at the development site would drop from 385 feet to 290 feet after the speed change.

Because NDOT and the developer said they wished to continue working together after the speed‑limit change, the commission indefinitely deferred a pending driveway‑connection appeal for 2311 Whites Creek Pike; NDOT staff said the deferral preserves the developer’s right to return if the parties do not reach agreement.

Other business included a brief recognition of Commissioner Woods for ten years of service. The meeting adjourned after the above actions were completed.

Votes at a glance (motions moved/seconded during the meeting; named movers/seconders not specified in the transcript):

- Approval of minutes: passed (unanimous voice vote recorded as “Aye”; specific counts not specified). - Consent agenda (Item 5): passed; [5.1] Revocation of valet permits at 1920 Acadia Street (requested by NDOT) — approved; [5.2] multiway stop control at Robertson Ave & James Ave/Westborough Dr — approved; [5.3] multiway stop control at Ewing Dr & Wynn and Wood Dr — approved. - Item 6.2 (paid parking requests): approved for the following locations with CPD/24‑7 enforcement where specified (each motion approved by voice vote; specific counts not specified): • East side of Leah Avenue between Peabody Street and Hermitage Avenue — paid 24/7 parking. • North side of Lee Avenue between Hermitage Avenue and Rutledge Avenue — paid 24/7 parking. • North and south sides of Middleton Street between Second Avenue South and Hermitage Avenue — paid 24/7 parking. • West side of Third Avenue between Lee Avenue and Peabody Street — paid 24/7 parking. • North and south sides of Goodry Street between Eleventh Avenue North and Thirteenth Avenue North — paid 24/7 parking. • East side of Twelfth Avenue between Gundry Street and Church Street — paid 24/7 parking. • South side of Commercial Street between Representative John Lewis Way and Fourth Avenue — paid 24/7 parking. • East and west sides of Eleventh Avenue between Church Street and Charlotte Avenue — paid 24/7 parking. • East and west sides of Twelfth Avenue North between Goodry and Charlotte Avenue — paid 24/7 parking. • North and south sides of Lindsey Avenue between Second Avenue South and Hermitage Avenue — (see separate action below for time limits). - Item 6.29 / 6.21 Lindsey Avenue: Commission approved a 2‑hour time‑limit parking rule on Lindsey Avenue between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday–Friday; after 4 p.m. the street is unregulated and free to park. - Item 6.23: Reduction of posted speed limit on Whites Creek Pike from 40 to 35 mph (segment between West Trinity Lane and West Nocturne Drive) — approved. NDOT will deploy speed‑change messaging trailers for at least two weeks before changing signage. - Item 7.102: Consideration of driveway appeal for 2311 Whites Creek Pike (Catalyst Design Group) — deferred indefinitely to allow continued coordination between NDOT and the developer.

No recorded roll‑call tally with named votes was provided in the transcript; approvals were confirmed by voice votes recorded as “Aye” and “passed.”