Columbus City Council last night approved a one-year moratorium on applications to create parking-permit districts in the Short North, Italian Village, Victorian Village, Dennison Place and Harrison West. Jim Letizia reports.
Residents and businesses have complained about a lack of parking in those areas. Betsy Pardora of the Short North Alliance says the moratorium will give a working group comprised of businesses and civic groups a chance to come up with solutions. Another member of the group, Chet Ridenour of the Short North Civic Association, says parking-permit districts have become a problem. Ridenour says a city funded study of the issue will begin in October. The study will examine the possibility of creating a universal parking-permit system in those areas, and how to make parking more accessible to visitors. The city accepts a permit application if 60 percent of residents on a particular street want to restrict parking. No one spoke against the moratorium at last night's council meeting. The moratorium takes effect next month.