Committee urged to commission parking study as hotel application could strain downtown spaces

Committee discussion on downtown parking focused on the need for an organized parking study to inform business recruitment and respond to a pending hotel application for Deer Lodge.

Committee member (S6) told the group that limited parking lots could hinder recruitment and suggested the committee consider commissioning a formal parking study. "If that does get approved, parking is gonna become an issue and to attract other businesses," S6 said. S6 identified a nearby commercial property for sale at $775,000 with listed dimensions totaling approximately 9,800 square feet and estimated it could fit roughly 36 parking spaces.

Members discussed short-term options, including negotiating access to private lots; S6 suggested outreach to Amber Brown at Peoples Bank as a potential negotiation partner for private parking use. The group also discussed Keystone and other buildings where lack of customer parking could limit tenant attraction.

The meeting also recorded concerns about possible soil contamination at the adjacent old dry-cleaner site. Staff member (S1) said contamination had been raised in prior public hearings, while Agency official (S7) asked whether any documentation of contamination had been provided; participants said no supporting documentation had been brought forward during the meeting and S7 requested follow-up. The contamination claim therefore remained unresolved in the meeting record.

The committee agreed to add parking-area identification to the five-year plan and to continue the discussion at the March 5 meeting once members have had a chance to gather further documentation, property details and potential private-parking agreements.

Next steps: staff and committee members will look for a formal scope for a parking study and compile any available contamination reports or property records ahead of the next meeting.