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Decatur keeps resident parking on 37 streets
Decatur city leaders voted to keep resident-only parking regulations across 37 streets despite lacking an enforcement mechanism.
DECATUR, Ga. - Decatur city commissioners voted Monday to keep resident-only parking regulations on 37 streets, despite lacking an enforcement system to identify authorized vehicles.
Decatur parking ordinance decision
What we know:
Commissioners rejected recommendations from city staff to repeal the resident-only parking regulations across designated neighborhoods. The city currently has 37 streets designated for resident-only parking, but leaders have no mechanism to determine who lives in the area.
Neighborhood parking struggles
What they're saying:
Homeowner Becky Carter said customers from nearby businesses frequently park on her street, leaving residents with nowhere to park. "We like the businesses, and we like them there," Carter said. "But we need places to park as well."
Mayor Tony Powers said the city wanted to keep the existing rules while seeking a quick solution. "We decided it was in our best interest to at least keep the status quo for today," Powers said.
Decatur parking permit history
The backstory:
The decision follows a previous proposal that commissioners opposed.
That measure would have made residents buy permit stickers to park on their own streets. Without permits or another tracking system, city officials currently cannot effectively enforce the parking restrictions.
Long-term enforcement plans
What's next:
City leaders plan to draft new proposals and hire a consultant to determine the best path forward for neighborhood parking. Powers hopes for a swift resolution, but he said creating a functional plan could take up to a few years.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from FOX 5 reporter Christopher King, who reported live from Decatur, as well as statements from Decatur Mayor Tony Powers and local homeowner Becky Carter.