The Starkville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to hold a public hearing to consider an ordinance pertaining to parking in residential areas during its last meeting.
Due to advertising the public hearing for residents, the first public hearing won’t be held until the June 5 meeting.
The public hearing came to fruition after Ward 5 Alderman Patrick Miller hosted town hall meetings with his constituents. He said during those town hall meetings, parking in residential areas was a “consistent point of discussion.”
Miller said he has seen a problem with parking across the board in residencies, and felt it was time to address the issue.
In particular, Miller said residents were seeing problems in areas like Oktibbeha Gardens, Briarwood, Edgewood Drive and East Pointe Drive.
“The main goal of this is just to maintain a standard in our neighborhoods, especially in the downtown area,” Miller said. “Really throughout all of Starkville.”
Miller said residents are specifically seeing cars parked on both sides of the street from each other. Also, he said there are cars, trailers and boats parked in yards.
Miller said in these areas, he is starting to see an increase in vacant property owners, whose owner may live in Jackson, Birmingham, Alabama or other places outside of Starkville.
Currently, Miller said vacant property owners are not doing their best to maintain their property.
“They’re not being conscientious of the folks who are property owners in that neighborhood who actually live there,” Miller said.
Another example Miller gave was there may be a three-bedroom home, but six cars are parked with three in the yard and others in the street.
“We’re just trying to treat those symptoms,” Miller said.
In terms of how he wants the ordinance to look, Miller said he would like to listen from residents first, then conform an ordinance based on those needs and wants.
“I’m completely open to hearing from the public, and certainly want to shape it around what we hear from the public,” Miller said. “Having something that best fits Starkville.”
Miller said there are plenty of other towns adhering to this same type of process across the state. Miller specifically mentioned Oxford and Ridgeland as cities who have formulated an ordinance.
“We’re trying to protect the property owners in Starkville, and I think this is a good way to not only treat the symptom of parking, but also increasing people’s property values,” Miller said.
When the consideration of the public hearing arose, Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver said he thinks looking at adopting an ordinance is a proactive idea for residents throughout Starkville.
Carver said moving forward, he would like to have conversations with code enforcement employees on how they look at enforcing the ordinance.
Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Alderman Roy A’. Perkins said he would like for the Community Development Department to be prepared to ensure the public understands any amendment to the ordinance. Perkins said he would like to know what changes it will have in the neighborhoods, and that the ordinance is justifiable.