'Protect the residents 1st' | Louisville proposes parking meters along Bardstown Road | Business

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It could soon be harder to find free parking along Bardstown Road, now that the city has proposed adding more parking meters.

Officials said the meters could ease congestion, but some neighbors and businesses worry they'll do more harm than good.

"I personally don't like the idea of metered parking through here," Michelle Oliver said as she visited Bardstown Road. "I think it's just best to leave it as is."

The Parking Authority of River City (PARC) wants to add 328 meters in a 2.3 mile stretch of the Highlands. They would go from Broadway and Baxter to Bardstown and Woodbourne.

In a 2023 study, PARC found metered parking frees up space around local shops and creates more turnover.

However, critics believe this could take parking away from neighbors on side streets.

"People don't want to pay to park," Drew Borgmann, owner of Flanagan's Ale House said. "We think this is going to push cars into the neighborhood even further. This is just going to put kind of a toll on our bill here at the restaurant."

The Louisville Hospitality Association represents more than 50 businesses, including Flanagan's Ale House. On Friday, a spokesperson told WDRB that the group is against PARC's proposal.

"Our membership is opposed to any increase in new meters and any increase in new hours or later hours to existing meters," Sean Vandevander said in a phone call. "It will deter people from visiting businesses, restaurants, bars in these entertainment districts because they don't want to pay to park. Who wants to get up in the middle of dinner to check their meter and add more money?"

The president of the Highlands Commerce Guild is also against PARC's current proposal.

"It's potentially turning people away from a very viable business, residential, and entertainment district, Aaron Givhan said. "Protect the residents first. There's no reason to make the Highlands heavy in parking."

Givhan said there are better ways to change parking in the area.

"Create a parking zone for residents first, Givhan said. "Allow employees temporary parking during the business hours only."

The metered parking is expected to bring in $285,400 annually. However, that money wouldn't stay in the Highlands. It would go back to PARC for programs and equipment.

PARC is taking community feedback and recommendations into consideration as it finalizes the details. A spokesperson said after "an actionable plan is developed, it will be reviewed by the appropriate internal Metro departments" before being presented to councilman Ben Reno-Weber.

While there's no firm timeline for the project, the plan is expected to be completed within this fiscal year that ends June 2026.