The Ellijay Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has approved a resolution recommending several parallel parking spaces on River Street be permanently barricaded.
Ellijay DDA board members Reece Sanford, Melinda Hadden, Josh Moyers, Keith Nunn and Sarah Burnette approved the resolution when meeting at City Hall Tuesday, April 12. The recommendation comes after the DDA completed a test run last fall in which parallel parking from River Street tavern to the roundabout was temporarily restricted.
Town hall meetings were held before and after that test run. The resolution incorporates some of the suggestions and concerns heard at the two town hall meetings, noted Sanford, DDA chairman.
“This was a project we did for the city, and this is the conclusion,” he added.
The DDA is recommending barricading the nine parallel spaces with decorative feeding trough planters, rather than the previously used metal barricades. The resolution also asks that owners of businesses on River Street where the spaces are located be allowed to extend their business licenses onto the sidewalk to serve more patrons.
A similar approach has worked well in Jasper where decorative planters have been put up in several areas of Main Street to allow for outdoor dining, Sanford noted. The planters could also be moved if a situation arises in which the parking spaces need to be used, he added.
It’s hoped that rendering the nine parking spaces inaccessible will help make River Street safer, with fewer cars parked along the busy street providing increased visibility for pedestrians. Strategic placement of the planters would also force pedestrians to use crosswalks, which would cut down on jaywalking, Sanford noted.
“It will increase revenue for the businesses, and make that part of River Street safer for pedestrians,” he said.
The resolution also recommends making both sides of Church Street a designated delivery zone for trucks.
Currently, the nine parallel spaces and some side streets, like North Avenue, are used for delivery unloading. Having a designated truck delivery zone would help reduce that congestion, Sanford noted.
The Ellijay DDA is an advisory board to the city council, and the resolution will be officially presented to councilmembers at an upcoming meeting.
“It’s just a recommendation. We’re not expecting them to vote on anything or take action immediately,” Sanford said.