A committee that helps to set parking policy for the city of Kalamazoo says downtown would be better off with fewer parking lots. The committee presented a five-year plan Monday that calls for cutting 1000 parking lot spots by the end of the decade –replacing at least some of the lost parking with ramps.
Downtown Development Authority President Steve Deisler says the idea is to use space efficiently in a less car-centered downtown.
"Just like the buildings, dense parking, ramps are probably the future as in most cities. But the ultimate future is trying to get us out of our cars, on a bike or walking or using public transportation," he says.
Deisler says parking lots in the downtown take up land that would offer more value to everyone if developed.
Downtown Kalamazoo Retail and Restaurant Association president Clarence Lloyd says less lot parking in downtown could work for businesses.
"Any time you say something like that it sounds awful. But I know that there are some serious gains that are going to come from the plan as a whole," he says, adding that it's important to judge the plan as a whole.
The city says it will hold at least a couple of public hearings on the plan, which includes rate hikes for many paid spots, before the commission votes on it.
