Members of the Plymouth City Commission voted 5-2 to pursue a plan to implement a paid parking system during their regular meeting Nov. 21.
Commissioners Alanna Maguire and Linda Filipczak cast the no votes on the proposal and voiced their concerns regarding the impact of paid parking on businesses in the community.
Maguire said the proposal could be costly for employees at local businesses or volunteers at the historical museum, many of whom are low-income or on a fixed income.
Filipczak noted that local businesses were against the plan which could drive customers to nearby Canton or Northville to shop or dine. She said she felt the paid parking would be a detriment to the character of downtown Plymouth.
Mayor Nick Muroz, however, explained that funding to maintain the current parking was not adequate from current property taxes from local business. Commission member Marques Thomey cited a recent report which found costs to maintain the central parking deck for the next 20 years would be $3.1 million. Several commissioners agreed that the current city funding is not sufficient to repair and maintain the parking deck.
A plan to allow free parking on some city streets and paid parking on others met with criticism from those in attendance at the meeting. One business owner said such a system would be harmful as one business could have free parking for employees, while another would not.
No final decision on the plan was made and the commissioners' review of the study will be discussed prior to any further implementation.
