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Council sets June 11 hearing on resident-only parking; local restaurant owner warns small businesses could suffer
Summary
The St. Petersburg City Council scheduled a June 11 public hearing on an ordinance to create neighborhood resident-only parking districts. A nearby restaurant owner urged the council to study economic impacts and add business-access protections before expanding permit zones.
The St. Petersburg City Council on May 28 set a public hearing for June 11 on an ordinance that would amend the city code to establish neighborhood resident-only parking areas and renumber parts of the code.
The ordinance, described by city staff as revisions to sections 26-168 and creation of a new 26-169 on neighborhood resident-only parking areas, will only take effect in specific areas after separate council action and further processes including resident support and traffic studies.
"Small businesses potentially will bear the greatest burden of this ordinance," said Philip Ingram, who addressed the council as a representative of Tripp Steiner and a longtime local business owner. Ingram told councilors that commercial corridors outside downtown rely on on-street, shared public parking and warned that harder parking rules could reduce customers, hurt hiring and discourage investment.
City staff member Evan responded to questions about how areas would be defined and approved, saying the ordinance creates a framework rather than immediate implementation. "After today's first reading we still have a public hearing June 11," Evan said, adding that enactment for any specific area would require a separate council action and that, under the proposed process, two-thirds of residents in a defined, contiguous area would have to vote in favor before permit signs and enforcement would be placed. Evan also said staff would consult with active neighborhood associations and identify businesses likely to be affected before a council decision.
Vice Chair Richie Floyd urged caution with statewide rhetoric around tax and budget discussions but supported the careful review of local policy impacts. Several council members emphasized that any specific resident-only parking zone would be subject to traffic studies and later council consideration.
The council moved and seconded the ordinance's first reading and set the public hearing for June 11. Staff and council members said the June 11 hearing will be the forum for detailed proposals on specific areas, and any new permit zones would be adopted through separate ordinances after notice and resident input.
The issue returns to the council for public testimony and a final vote on June 11.
