The time-limited parking in New Town approved last year is planned to take effect by early March.
In June 2013 the James City County Development Review Committee, which is a five-member subcommittee of the Planning Commission, approved a trial period of timed parking on Main Street in New Town. At the time, the intent was to begin a six-month trial and bring a report back to the DRC on the effectiveness of timed parking in January, but members of the commercial association in New Town wanted the timed parking to wait until after the holidays.
With the Christmas shopping season now come and gone, New Town Associates LLC is again planning to implement timed parking, which is expected to be in effect in late February or early March. County staff approached the DRC with an update on the plan Wednesday.
The timed spots would limit visitors to four hours per spot along Main Street.
“It appears that a material reason that spaces on Main Street do not turn over more frequently is because employees in New Town are occupying these spaces while they are at work,” reads a staff memo to the DRC. “New Town and Town Management plans to be more proactive in notifying employers and employees to park in central parking lots rather than on Main Street.”
As was the case in June, the spots are not planned to be metered parking spots. Instead, signs will be posted to indicate the parking is timed, but the sign locations – either on lamp posts, street signs, pavement or wheel stops – have not been determined.
The timed parking will be tried for six months. In September staff will return to the DRC with a report about the effectiveness and status of timed parking.
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