Do Not Put Parking Meters in Downtown Blue Ridge

Putting parking meters in downtown blue ridge will not solve the parking problem, but rather make it worse. People will refuse to pay to park and then will park at local churches that are downtown or other businesses in close proximity. You will basically just be removing the cars from downtown blue ridge and make an already hard to access area even more frustrating due to the amount of pedestrians that will now be walking along other streets to get downtown after they have parked for free elsewhere. Who came up with this crazy idea? Maybe we should also put a coin machine on the public restrooms as well. That will teach those tourist! Man! Why is everyone trying to keep the tourist away? They are what is going to build our local economy and allow for more community growth and raise property values due to us living in a desirable area.

I live in Fannin county and often stop at our local stores instead of going to a box store for purchases. Charging for parking will sway me away from continuing to so this. Our family frequents local restaurants and parking shouldn't be another expense.

Installing parking meters is a terrible idea. The new parking tax would hurt local businesses.

I'm fully against putting parking meters in blue ridge. Why do we need them? We are a small town not Atlanta.

I live in a neighboring community and shop in Blue Ridge all the time. Unfortunately, should the city council install parking meters, I would lose interest in Blue Ridge. I didn't move to the lovely mountains for city ways to follow me. What a horrid idea.

Parking meters are not the answer to the city's financial problems. The City Council also said beer and wine sales would provide Blue Ridge with financial prosperity. Um...still waiting for the paving of Main Street, and the completion of the Depot's remodeling. Parking meters will solve our town's money woes? I think NOT!!!

I believe meters are a bad idea for Blue Ridge.

I live outside the city limits but am downtown 2 or 3 times a week. I do not believe 300 meters are enough to make any money. You don't make money on the few pennies a hour the meter makes. You make money on issuing tickets on expired meters and with only 300 meters there is just not be enough volume to pay the salary for 1 meter maid let alone for the cost of purchasing and maintaining. Parking meters are profitable in big cities, not small historic towns.

I grew up in Blue Ridge and watched downtown go from a vital business hub to empty streets when the big box stores came along. Don't ruin Blue Ridge's rebirth by creating a new bureaucracy for political types to argue over. No way it can possibly earn enough to pay for itself!

No Parking Meters!!!

I'm a past resident and frequent visitor to downtown Blue Ridge. Having just returned from a trip to downtown Charleston, SC where parking meters are on every street within blocks of their downtown area, I can say that having to worry about the meter expiring did make me feel rushed while shopping and taking in their town.

No Parking Meters!!!

BAD idea. "Forcing turnover of our limited parking spots?" You have to be kidding! It would greatly impact all businesses negatively.

I think it would be a bad idea!

As a 14-year non-rental cabin owner and friend of business owners in BR, I agree this is a BAD idea.

This is a terrible idea. Blue Ridge needs MORE parking to encourage more customers to visit downtown, this will only discourage people to visit by making it even more of a hassle to park. We need more parking spaces not parking meters.

our small town doesnt need this!

Parking meters are such a ridiculous solution for our charming downtown. We need a place for visitors to park while they are away for hours on the train. This would free up many parking places for other visitors to downtown.

I am opposed to the parking meters. It will only complicate the real problem we are already having, not enough parking!

Terrible!!