Like it or not Blue Ridge has become a " destination " it also seems that the growth of our beautiful town has passed the meantality of the people running it. There needs to be a town planner that has a vision of control, progress and not a self interest as so many of our politicians have today.
P
Patti LaRosa
9 years ago
No to a 2-3 hour limit. If Blue Ridge benefits from tourism why would we tell them you can stay but only for 3 hours.?
B
Barbara Milliron
9 years ago
From my husband: Create downtown development authority which can float a bond referendum that ultimately would provide necessary funding to acquire land and build a parking garage. Next create tax allocation district (i.e. TAD) which allows the incremental gains in property taxes combined with parking garage fee revenue to pay back the bond. There are other ways folks!
J
Janice hunter
9 years ago
What is the reason for the2-3 hour limit?
S
Susan Ryder
9 years ago
Although we live in Mineral Bluff, Blue Ridge is the city we do all our shopping in... a Three hour limit will not only kill tourism, it will make it very difficult to spend the day there as we do now... please don't do this.
F
Frank Daly
9 years ago
I work in this beautiful small town. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a huge draw to fuel tourism in Blue Ridge. To penalize tourist who are coming to see your area, spend money, and ride the train is foolish. Make more parking instead of restricting what you have. If I wanted to be restricted where I park and be timed where I go then I would move to a City. This isn't Atlanta folks.
R
Rebekah Watts
9 years ago
No. What a disaster it would be.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Keep your word, council members (Arp, etc)! Stop steam rolling your personal agendas through...its unethical, immoral, and corrupt!
G
Gloria C Wells
9 years ago
I have a booth at Blue Ridge Antique Mall. We have enough concern about attracting visitors to our end of town. Not only will 2 to 3 hour parking be very difficult for everyone but especially those of us that depend on those tourists that park at the end of our street to survey the entire town. Give the Shops on the Park a break and don't make this decision to limit parking.We could also appreciate and welcome food at our end of the street and include us in Blue Ridge signage.
M
Mary Jane Walker
9 years ago
We own business real estate in downtown Blue Ridge and strongly oppose this plan.
C
Catherine Jellets
9 years ago
This seems to be a horrible idea for our businesses and those of us who enjoy shopping. Atlanta decided to implement crazy parking and look at how it is turning out!
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Worst idea!
L
Laurie Rohan
9 years ago
Limiting parking is going to ruin the quaint town of BR. People like to go shop, eat, visit, listen to bands at various places and are down there a lot longer then 3 hours! Please listen to us, THE TAXPAYERS, we DO NOT want a TIME limit put on parking!
D
Debbie Thurmond
9 years ago
I do not live in the city limits of Blue Ridge, but I have a Blue Ridge address. This plan will deter visitors and I also think all the signs will be an eye sore to our beautiful town.
S
Sharon Gudger
9 years ago
I grew up in Fannin County and have a business outside of city limits. My family visits Blue Ridge often. I'm against the 3 hr parking and the loading zones recently added. The loading zones should be time limited such as until 7am, then public parking. 3 hr parking disrupts the business design/plan, the tourist niche, the tourist draw to Blue Ridge. It's ridiculous. No thought, no understanding of the big picture. Parking issues/decisions should be made by professionals who understand how to implement a 10, 20, 30 yr plan while considering the tourist niche - the train- which draws 80,000 visitors yearly and requires minimum 4 hrs without including shopping or eating time. Those who made the 3 hr parking decision do not have the knowledge, nor understanding of the negative impact to the city of Blue Ridge, to make such an important decision which stands to impact the city's economic path. What if the company train pulls out? What then?
L
Linda Feldman
9 years ago
Not full-time in Blue Ridge, but I am a property owner.
N
Nancy Arp
9 years ago
Blue Ridge is my childhood hometown. I still have family there. A parking place with a shuttle would be a better solution. Especially for those riding the train.
C
Claudia Muller
9 years ago
We own a retail shop downtown Blue Ridge, and would like to see parking opportunities expanded instead of restricted!
T
Tom Striker
9 years ago
14 year retail business owner, former business association president: Fix parking first, then screw around with time limits. BRSRR passengers and business owners need long-term parking.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
I am not a resident of Fannin Co., but half of my family does live there. One of my friends owns a shop there and I know this would hurt her business. Who wants to go move there car in between shopping or eating? Not me I would just leave!
Like it or not Blue Ridge has become a " destination " it also seems that the growth of our beautiful town has passed the meantality of the people running it. There needs to be a town planner that has a vision of control, progress and not a self interest as so many of our politicians have today.
No to a 2-3 hour limit. If Blue Ridge benefits from tourism why would we tell them you can stay but only for 3 hours.?
From my husband: Create downtown development authority which can float a bond referendum that ultimately would provide necessary funding to acquire land and build a parking garage. Next create tax allocation district (i.e. TAD) which allows the incremental gains in property taxes combined with parking garage fee revenue to pay back the bond. There are other ways folks!
What is the reason for the2-3 hour limit?
Although we live in Mineral Bluff, Blue Ridge is the city we do all our shopping in... a Three hour limit will not only kill tourism, it will make it very difficult to spend the day there as we do now... please don't do this.
I work in this beautiful small town. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a huge draw to fuel tourism in Blue Ridge. To penalize tourist who are coming to see your area, spend money, and ride the train is foolish. Make more parking instead of restricting what you have. If I wanted to be restricted where I park and be timed where I go then I would move to a City. This isn't Atlanta folks.
No. What a disaster it would be.
Keep your word, council members (Arp, etc)! Stop steam rolling your personal agendas through...its unethical, immoral, and corrupt!
I have a booth at Blue Ridge Antique Mall. We have enough concern about attracting visitors to our end of town. Not only will 2 to 3 hour parking be very difficult for everyone but especially those of us that depend on those tourists that park at the end of our street to survey the entire town. Give the Shops on the Park a break and don't make this decision to limit parking.We could also appreciate and welcome food at our end of the street and include us in Blue Ridge signage.
We own business real estate in downtown Blue Ridge and strongly oppose this plan.
This seems to be a horrible idea for our businesses and those of us who enjoy shopping. Atlanta decided to implement crazy parking and look at how it is turning out!
Worst idea!
Limiting parking is going to ruin the quaint town of BR. People like to go shop, eat, visit, listen to bands at various places and are down there a lot longer then 3 hours! Please listen to us, THE TAXPAYERS, we DO NOT want a TIME limit put on parking!
I do not live in the city limits of Blue Ridge, but I have a Blue Ridge address. This plan will deter visitors and I also think all the signs will be an eye sore to our beautiful town.
I grew up in Fannin County and have a business outside of city limits. My family visits Blue Ridge often. I'm against the 3 hr parking and the loading zones recently added. The loading zones should be time limited such as until 7am, then public parking. 3 hr parking disrupts the business design/plan, the tourist niche, the tourist draw to Blue Ridge. It's ridiculous. No thought, no understanding of the big picture. Parking issues/decisions should be made by professionals who understand how to implement a 10, 20, 30 yr plan while considering the tourist niche - the train- which draws 80,000 visitors yearly and requires minimum 4 hrs without including shopping or eating time. Those who made the 3 hr parking decision do not have the knowledge, nor understanding of the negative impact to the city of Blue Ridge, to make such an important decision which stands to impact the city's economic path. What if the company train pulls out? What then?
Not full-time in Blue Ridge, but I am a property owner.
Blue Ridge is my childhood hometown. I still have family there. A parking place with a shuttle would be a better solution. Especially for those riding the train.
We own a retail shop downtown Blue Ridge, and would like to see parking opportunities expanded instead of restricted!
14 year retail business owner, former business association president: Fix parking first, then screw around with time limits. BRSRR passengers and business owners need long-term parking.
I am not a resident of Fannin Co., but half of my family does live there. One of my friends owns a shop there and I know this would hurt her business. Who wants to go move there car in between shopping or eating? Not me I would just leave!