ROSWELL, GA — Roswell city leaders are moving forward with a pilot program to study parking in the city’s downtown area after hearing hours of public comment from residents.
The Roswell City Council voted 4-2 to adopt a seven-month pilot parking program designed to gather more information and data on the best parking options for residents, visitors and businesses.
The vote came after council members heard from residents who shared a wide range of opinions about the possibility of charging for parking in areas such as Green Street and other downtown locations.
“It doesn’t make sense for me to come here and pay a tax bill, and pay a bill on a tax bill to pay to park,” one resident said.
Another resident urged council members not to move forward with paid parking.
“And I beg and plead to not start charging for parking,” the resident said.
Others raised concerns about the cost of potential parking fees.
“I can’t pay by the hour, I literally cannot afford the bill,” another resident said.
Some residents suggested the city should consider other options to fund parking solutions.
“I just feel there are other funding streams that this can come from,” one resident said.
“There are options that we are not looking at,” another resident added.
Council members had been expected to vote on whether to remove free parking spaces, including the Green Street gravel lot, and charge for parking in the evenings and on weekends at various locations. However, that vote did not happen.
Instead, the city approved the pilot program to gather additional data before making a final decision.
“It would be until the end of the year December 31, 2026, as a pilot program. Of course that does not mean that we won’t be able to look at data before the end of the 7 months,” Mayor Mary Robichaux said.
During the meeting, residents also questioned whether charging for parking would generate additional revenue.
City leaders say the pilot program will help determine the best parking approach moving forward.
WSB Radio’s Michelle Wright contributed to this story.
