Plymouth Rejects Plan to Establish Parking Zones Downtown

A plan designed to stop drivers from simply moving their car from one spot to another to prevent a parking violation was struck down Monday by the Plymouth City Commission. 

The plan called for establishing four separate parking zones in the downtown area and would limit the amount of time a vehicle can be parked in that specific zone, regardless of whether the driver moves the vehicle to another nearby spot. In order to remain downtown past designated parking times, a vehicle would have to be relocated to another zone.

The following areas would be zoned under the proposal:

• Central parking deck (Zone 1)
• East central parking lot (Zone 2)
• Penniman Avenue from Harvey to Union Street; Union Street from Penniman Avenue to Church Street; Fralick from Main Street to Harvey Street; and the Penniman parking lot.
• Main Street from Penniman to Ann Arbor Trail; Ann Arbor Trail from Harvey Street to Union Street; Deer Street from Ann Arbor Trail to Wing Street; Forest Avenue from Ann Arbor Trail to Wing Street; Wing Street from Deer Street to Harvey Street. 

Business owners and commissioners felt the plan would be too confusing for downtown visitors and rejected the proposal.

Mayor Dan Dwyer said downtown's parking issue is the "most complicated issue in the City of Plymouth," and the city has been developing plans during the past year to  and prevent long-term parkers from overstaying their welcome.

One measure aimed at freeing up space downtown is the of the at Ann Arbor Trail east of Harvey Street to the city, adding more than 100 parking spaces downtown. City officials hope downtown employees will utilize the church parking lot, rather than occupying prime parking spots in the center of downtown throughout the day. 

The concept of zoning, which would take effect when the church parking lot purchase is finalized, raised flags with some commissioners, who felt the zones would do little more than confuse and discourage first-time visitors.

"It seems to be the concept of zoning hasn't been thought through," Wright said.

City Commissioner Ron Loiselle, who supported the plan, said the plan would have saved the best spots downtown for those frequenting local businesses downtown, while discouraging employees and business owners from occupying prime parking spaces for long periods of time.

Commissioners Wright, Diane Bogenrieder, Gerald Sabatini and Meg Dooley voted against the zoning proposal.

The City Commission unanimously approved new parking violation fees on Monday.