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Jasper planning panel adopts amendment to allow angled parking on select one-way downtown streets
Summary
The Jasper City Planning Commission adopted a text amendment to Section 94-117 E6 to permit angled parking and certain backing configurations on one-way streets downtown, a change staff said is intended to support a planned conversion of Wall Street to one-way and increase on-street parking; staff noted state rules limit changes on State Route 53 and promised follow-up on ADA concerns raised by a resident.
The Jasper City Planning Commission on Thursday voted to adopt a zoning text amendment to Section 94-117 E6 that alters off-street parking design rules to allow angled on-street parking configurations tied to one-way street conversions downtown.
Mary Elizabeth, a planning staff member, told the commission the change responds to a direction from the city council to convert Wall Street to a one-way and to traffic studies related to a planned widening of Highway 53 and a new roundabout. "If we were to change Wall Street into a one-way ... [it] will increase that traffic flow and ... increase the available on-street parking," she said, explaining that the amendment removes a prohibition that otherwise prevents vehicles from backing onto the public right-of-way except on one-way streets.
The amendment traces to an initial request by local property owner Dave Terry for increased parking at Hensley Plaza, Mary Elizabeth said; the council refined the proposal and sent revised ordinance language to staff and legal before the public hearing. Commissioners pressed staff on how many one-way streets are currently downtown and whether existing one-way uses are technically out of code. Staff said about six downtown streets operate as one-way and have been effectively grandfathered, and that new development on one-way streets would still need to meet parking rules or seek a variance.
Commissioners and staff also clarified the limits of local authority on State Route 53. Mary Elizabeth said the state controls Highway 53 and that GDOT standards generally do not allow angled parking where drivers would back into state highway traffic; businesses on 53 would typically need private on-site parking or a state curb-cut approval for any different configuration.
During public comment, Mike, a Jasper resident, raised accessibility concerns about a recently installed sidewalk in front of a downtown barber shop that he said lacks a required curb cut and described difficulties accessing the sidewalk without entering traffic. "They just put in a sidewalk in front of the barber shop, but it doesn't have a curb cut," Mike said, asking staff to check whether the work complies with ADA standards; staff apologized for any oversight and said they would follow up.
A motion to adopt the amendment was made and seconded and the commission voted to recommend adopting the text amendment as presented. The transcript does not record the names of the motion maker or seconder, nor does it provide a roll-call tally; the commission chair announced the motion carried.
The commission also approved amended minutes earlier in the meeting to add that public commenters raised environmental and ecological impact concerns. The meeting adjourned at about 6:22 p.m.
