A proposal to add metered parking on Bardstown Road is sparking outrage from some residents and business owners.
In July, the Parking Authority of River City (PARC) released a study from Walker Consultants identifying 328 spots along a 2.3-mile stretch of Baxter Avenue and Bardstown Road where new parking meters could be installed. The proposal would not only include metered parking along Bardstown and Baxter, but also several side streets off the thoroughfare.
In the weeks since, some have expressed concerns that the move — which would generate $285,000 annually for PARC — could hurt both residents and businesses in the area.
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Audrey Arcelli, owner of Ms. Audrey's Crafting Emporium, said she’s worried about the possible loss of customers if meters are installed. Many of her customers are families with young children or elderly, and asking them to brave the traffic and parking on Bardstown Road is already a lot, she said. Paid parking would just be another obstacle.
“It’s going to affect the number of people that come into the shop. And unfortunately with foot traffic declining, the idea of also reducing the number of cars that come into the area, it's really discouraging as a business owner,” she said.
Rob Willy, a longtime Highlands-area resident and owner of Brown Dog Woodworking, said the plan was floated as an idea by PARC at a Highlands Commerce Guild meeting in July before it was later reintroduced as a more definite proposal — drawing ire from dozens of businessowners.
“It’s not the right move for the corridor right now,” Willy said. “We have a lot of work to do in terms of business development, and to drop parking meters on basically any available curb space along the corridor would really be putting a ton of pressure on the remaining businesses and their ability to attract customers.”
In an email to The Courier Journal, PARC Interim Director Gerard Howell said the agency is still finalizing plans based on feedback and recommendations.
"Once an actionable plan is developed, it will be reviewed by the appropriate internal Metro departments and then presented to the District 8 councilperson," he wrote.
District 8 Metro Councilman Ben Reno-Weber issued a statement early Aug. 6, saying he had met with PARC and Mayor Craig Greenberg about the proposal. He reaffirmed that no official decision has been approved and that his office will continue to work with PARC and neighborhood groups.
"Before anything happens, we have asked for (and I believe will get) a comprehensive plan for how parking in the city should evolve, particularly given the fundamental changes in technology, the entrance into the market of new private sector players, and the desire to support small businesses and dense housing, particularly along transit corridors like Bardstown Road," Reno-Weber wrote.
It's not just businesses that will be affected by any changes. If paid parking is implemented on Bardstown and Baxter, community members fear it could push customers to park on already crowded neighborhood streets, limiting spots for residents who rely on street parking.
“It’s going to get pushed further into the neighborhoods, and now you’ve got metered spots in front of the smaller secondary roads,” Willy said.
But there is some support for the meters among residents. Shawn Reilly, former president of the Tyler Park Neighborhood Association, said the current parking rules and regulations on Bardstown Road are confusing and could deter those wanting to visit businesses. In an email to The Courier Journal, Reilly said parking reforms would make the area more welcoming and navigable for residents and visitors alike.
"There’s nothing more frustrating than circling Bardstown Road searching for a parking space only to be thwarted by a jumble of free spots, 2 hour only spots, and traditional meters that leave you guessing whether you’re legal or liable for a ticket," Reilly wrote. "This hodgepodge approach isn’t just confusing, it exacerbates congestion, punishes local businesses, and drives residents and visitors away."
The issue is more than just meters for Willy. The businessowner feels Bardstown Road has been on an economic decline for several years, with some longtime institutions closing and storefronts staying vacant. If paid parking goes in, he said, it could cause an even steeper economic downturn for the area.
Willy said he wants the city to implement an economic leader for the corridor to help businesses and attract new development there.
“Someone who wakes up every day to say ‘How do we attract businesses along the corridor and what actions need to happen in order to do that?’” he said.
This story has been updated with a statement from Councilman Ben Reno-Weber and comments from Shawn Reilly.
Reach reporter Keely Doll at kdoll@courierjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: PARC wants to add parking meters on Bardstown Road. Local businesses say that's a bad idea
