The Danville Town Council discussed extending the parking time limit at the Clocktower parking lot from two-hours to three, at its meeting Tuesday.
The hope is that the new time limit can be in effect when the Clocktower renovations are completed in November. Currently, the town is adding 50 new parking spots to the Clocktower parking lot in an effort to provide more downtown parking for shoppers.
“The availability of convenient public parking is vital to the long-term economic health of the downtown,” said Bonnie Guttman, Economic Development Coordinator for Danville, in her staff report. “In the last few years, downtown economic revitalization has been significant. As this trend continues, parking management and supply continue to warrant attention.”
The two-hour parking limit was originally thought to be a good idea. In 1999, the Downtown Parking Task Force, which was made up of residents appointed by the Town Council to address parking issues, suggested modifying the parking time limit at the Clocktower. They felt that a two-hour limit would discourage employees from parking there all day long and would leave more parking spaces for customers.
Since the two-hour limit was instituted, the town has received feedback from merchants and downtown shoppers that two hours is not enough.
Instead of providing more parking spaces, it discourages people from doing longer activities downtown, such as visiting a hairdresser and having lunch. While trying to enjoy themselves downtown, patrons are worried about moving their cars and getting a parking ticket.
Danville has been in discussions with the Discover Danville Association and the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce about the time limits. They decided that four hours would be too long. It would encourage employees to park for half a day in the parking lot, which would take up a lot of customer parking. All three parties agreed on a three-hour limit. They believe this is sufficient time for patrons to shop and dine.
Danville is also planning to add four 20-minute parking stalls to the south of the driveway that bisects the Clocktower building. The two 20-minute stalls behind Rick’s Picks will remain. The loading zones will be in effect from 4-10 a.m.; three-hour parking throughout the lot will be enforced from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
