The proposal in the form of two paragraphs of explanation accompanied by a map of proposed parking space designations drew a few public comments before council accepted it with little discussion.
The parking time limits map includes more short-term parking – 30 minutes and two-hour - in the area of the Public Square and some spaces near the county courthouse, and longer-term parking of four hours or unlimited along Main and Market streets.
“This creates more free parking than at any time, except during the moratorium,” said Councilman Bobby Phillips, chairman of council’s streets and sidewalks committee that looked at the parking.
The moratorium, in effect since mid-November, will continue through March. It banned tickets for time-limited parking spaces downtown while options were explored. Tickets have been issued during the moratorium for illegal parking including in handicapped spaces.
“It truly does address a lot of the concerns of business owners, customers who come downtown and the employees as well,” said Nicole Loy, director of the Troy Main Street downtown advocacy organization.
“It is hard to make every single person happy, but it does address the concenrs of a lot of businesses,” she said.
Patrick Titterington, city service and safety director, said a parking lot kiosk off South Cherry Street would be bagged. Parking meter heads bagged for the moratorium would remain covered until meters are removed.
More than 100 new signs will be ordered to designate the specific parking areas, with plans to have everything in place by the time the moratorium expires.
Councilman Brock Heath liked what he saw.
“It’s obviously not perfect, but boy, a lot better,” he said.
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