Columbus city officials are rolling out a new Short North parking plan, after one was scrapped last year due to complaints from area businesses. Jim Letizia reports.
The city will hold a public meeting on the plan at 6 p.m.Wednesday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This plan divides the Short North into three residential permit zones. Visitors parking in those areas during restricted times must either pay to do so, move their vehicles every three hours, or both. Parking meters in the area would cost 1 dollar an hour from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., then 2 dollars an hour until midnight. Visitors would pay to park using a smartphone app. The previous plan created several smaller permit zones.
Permits under the new plan would cost 25 dollars a year for a single vehicle, or 100 dollars a year for a single vehicle and two guest passes. The plan would be enforced using license-plate readers on city vehicles patroling during restricted hours.
The city wants to get the plan before city council by June and launch it in November. The Short North Alliance business group, meanwhile, is launching its own pilot parking program on April 9. Workers or shoppers at participating businesses will need to have their parking validated if they use one of the newer garages in the area.
The program will run from April through June at the White Castle garage; from June through August at the Hub garage; and from August through October at the Joseph garage.
