Starkville aldermen unanimously voted last week to set the city’s downtown parking regulations and will now enforce the two-hour-maximum from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
The new standard applies in the following locations: Main Street, from Jackson Street to Meigs Street; Lafayette Street, from Jefferson Street to Lampkin Street; Jackson Street, from Jefferson Street to Lampkin Street; and Washington Street, from Jefferson Street to Lampkin Street.
Tuesday’s adjustment of the ordinance was made because Starkville’s previous rule did not explicitly state when two-hour parking restrictions would occur. Aldermen adopted the set hours after numerous business owners said proper enforcement at those times would ensure diners and shoppers have the ability to continue to frequent the area.
Working with the Starkville Main Street Association and its board, downtown business owners previously met to develop a consensus on the issue. It also developed the 7 p.m. ticket-writing cutoff to minimize parking enforcement’s impact on Starkville Community Theatre patrons.
Specifically, Ward 3 Alderman David Little said SCT patrons wishing to have a meal out at one of the area’s restaurants can safely park after 5 p.m. to avoid ticketing.
Speaking on behalf of SMSA and downtown business owners at Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting, Julie Brown, of Brown and Langston PLLC, and Steve Langston, the owner of Sullivan’s Business and Office Supply, both said the area’s parking issues are a sign of its strong economy.
“It’s wonderful being a small town that actually has a parking problem,” Brown said. “(The refocused enforcement rules) will really help our downtown.”
“This is something we’ve worked on for years. It’s a great thing that you have a problem, and I hope we continue to make the problem worse,” Langston added. “(SMSA board members and downtown business owners that collaborated on the project) determined these hours should not impact the theatre. It was one of our greatest concerns. The more places we can free up, the more sales we can have and more sales taxes we can have.”
Langston also said SMSA is working with Mississippi State University to inventory all downtown parking spots – both public and private – and studying new lighting implementations to help encourage off-Main Street parking at night.
Before approving the change, Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver said the public parking lot behind Starkville Cafe should be restriped and have its entrances and exits improved in the coming months. City and SMSA officials have encouraged downtown patrons in the past to use the overflow parking area during busy hours.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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