Officials discuss parking options

By CARRIE KIRSCHNER - The Independent

ASHLAND July 18, 2008 12:01 am

— The debate about parking in downtown Ashland has been revived.
On Thursday night, the Ashland Board of City Commissioners once again discussed angled parking along a two-lane Winchester Avenue at the request of Commissioner Paula Hogsten.
Officials have discussed the issue numerous times during the last four or five years, invoking passionate arguments on both sides.
The revisiting of the issue in the midst of a campaign year promises more of the same.
Proponents of the measure have long claimed it will help development efforts in the central business district by helping to create a “destination” downtown. They argue making the area more pedestrian friendly will help to draw visitors to shopping, dining and entertainment, along with additional niche businesses.
Angled parking will also provide additional spaces for customers, they say, and slow down through traffic. There have been numerous independent studies that have suggested angled parking would be feasible and desired downtown, they point out.
Opponents worry it will reduce traffic to businesses by forcing drivers to circumvent downtown. They argue diagonal parking could also create a safety hazard because cars would be forced to back out of spaces into traffic.
Hogsten said she believes it’s time to revive the issue because other efforts to revitalize downtown have not produced the desired result.
“The bottom line is what we’ve been doing downtown really isn’t working,” she said.
She said one of the committees formed to work on a downtown strategic plan has indicated it also believes the city needs to look at doing something different to help spur change.
“We need a catalyst right now,” Hogsten said.
Commissioner Cheryl Spriggs said she also supports the idea. She believes it will help to create a downtown that is “a destination, not a drive through.”
Commissioner Larry Brown was more hesitant to revisit the issue. He said he was split on the issue before and is concerned now about costs vs. the benefits.
“I’m not opposed to change as long as it has benefits,” he said. “My concerns are what is it going to cost? How is it going to impact our current Streetscape?
“If we are going to move that direction I want a plan.”
Several others, including Main Street Director Danny Craig, Ashland Alliance President Jim Purgerson and Arts Council of Northeast Kentucky Director Trish Hall, spoke in favor of the measure, as did former Commissioner Polly Rideout Judd.
The commission took no formal action on the issue, although Hogsten and Spriggs want the issue — including cost and feasibility — to be studied by city staff.
CARRIE KIRSCHNER can be reached at ckirschner@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.