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Greenville council adopts new downtown parking plan to prioritize turnover and simplify enforcement
Summary
City Council approved a downtown parking plan that preserves free short-term parking along First Street but imposes two-hour limits on most on-street and surface-lot spaces, uses license-plate readers for enforcement and keeps the first two hours free in the parking deck with a 75-cent hourly fee thereafter.
Greenville City Council on Jan. 9 approved a downtown parking plan designed to increase turnover for merchants and reduce long-term use of public parking by commuters or non-downtown patrons.
Under the plan, all on-street parking blocks between First and Third streets and Washington and Cotanche will remain unrestricted and free. Elsewhere in the downtown grid, on-street parking will be free with a two-hour time limit; surface lots will be two-hour free lots as well. The downtown parking deck will continue to provide the first two hours free, then charge 75 cents per hour for additional time.
Jacob Joiner, who presented the plan, said enforcement will rely on license-plate-reading equipment mounted on enforcement vehicles rather than mobile apps or kiosks, and enforcement will begin with an education period. "The first offense is just a warning," Joiner said; subsequent citations escalate to $10 and $20 and persistent violators with three or more citations over 90 days may face towing.
The council also discussed protections for residents and employees. Downtown residents may apply for reserved permits (a dedicated space, $72 per month) or unreserved permits ($52 per month) for surface-lot parking. Employers may buy employee permits for $22 per month for access to available surface lots. The plan preserves access to playgrounds and the courthouse area by keeping First Street free.
Troy Dreyfuss, executive director of the Downtown Greenville Partnership, said business owners and stakeholders supported the plan after a series of meetings and recommended changes were incorporated. "We want people to come downtown," Dreyfuss said, urging a clear public education campaign to explain the changes.
Council members noted enforcement hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays) and said that weekend parking remains unrestricted in most areas. The education period will run through February and enforcement will begin in March 2025.
Council adopted the measure 6-0.
