Parking meter proposal for Bardstown Road faces strong community pushback

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It’s clear that many people along Bardstown Road don’t want parking meters, but the future of the proposal remains up in the air.

Ned Bass, who owns several buildings in the area — two of which are already vacant — said the addition of meters would only make things harder for struggling businesses.

“We’ve just done surveys, and there are 1,500 people who oppose the additional parking meters, and 150 businesses don’t want the parking meters, which will hurt their businesses,” Bass said. “It can’t help business — I don’t know how it could help business.”

At a community meeting in the Highlands on Monday night, Councilman Ben Reno-Weber, D-8, said PARC (Parking Authority of River City) has promised that no decisions will move forward without additional public input.

He said some ideas being considered include meters that increase in cost the longer you park, or even the option of a residential parking pass. He doesn’t expect any changes to be made for at least a year.

“Before anything else goes forward, they will circle back to us and say, ‘This is what we are thinking about’ — and my promise back to them is we’ll be proactive about what we want to see,” Reno-Weber said.

PARC’s original parking study projected more than $285,000 in potential annual revenue from the Bardstown Road area. Reno-Weber said he’s open to exploring alternative ways to raise that revenue without negatively impacting local businesses or residents.

Louisville jail mistakenly releases defendant deemed a 'significant danger'

Louisville Belvedere plan shifts ‘wow moment’ from Ohio River overlook due to cost concern

Quick action by Jeffersonville school workers helps student survive cardiac arrest

Man accused of beheading father in Jeffersonville held without bond after initial hearing