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Merchants' parking complaints answered
By KATHY SAUNDERS © St. Petersburg Times, published April 15, 2001 TREASURE ISLAND -- Overly strict parking requirements might be driving potential new business out of the city's downtown, according to local merchants. It's time, say business owners and city planners, to make some changes in Treasure Island's land development regulations. "The general feeling is that the land development regulations are very strict and they are restrictive," said City Manager Chuck Coward. Because of the number of projects the city is undertaking right now, including the beautification of downtown and studies for a new bridge, planners don't have time to review the entire set of regulations, he said. But business owners have complained so loudly about parking problems that City Planner Lynn Rosetti took on that portion of the regulations this year. She conducted two public meetings and last month presented the downtown community with some suggestions for changes. The most significant of those proposals is to establish a downtown parking agreement among business owners to share the spaces available in that area. Those business owners could form a downtown parking advisory committee to regularly discuss the effectiveness of the shared lots, she suggested. Rosetti also is recommending that downtown businesses could operate with fewer parking spaces if they prove they have more walk-in customers and by providing racks for bicyclists who visit their establishments. "In Treasure Island we are beginning to see a de-emphasis on the automobile," Rosetti said in a recent report to city commissioners. "It is important that the city continue to encourage alternative forms of transportation and make them more inviting." During her review of the city's development regulations, which were approved in 1995, Rosetti found many inconsistencies related to parking, she said. For example, regulations about the number of spaces required for offices and retail stores were liberal. But banks, restaurants and bars were required to have much more parking. Rosetti and Coward are planning to meet with representatives of the business community at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the new proposals. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at City Hall, 120 108th Ave. The final recommendations will have to go to the city's Planning and Zoning Board for review and to the city commissioners for approval.
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