Downtown Parking Program Aims to Assist in Economic Development

The City of Negaunee is announcing a new parking program that will soon be in effect in Downtown Negaunee. The program is designed to help assist in alleviating the housing shortage, as well as aid in downtown development.

Pursuant to Chapter 70, of the newly adopted Traffic Code, the City Manager was tasked with creating permitted parking program, as needed, within City owned public parking areas.

“Our focus with this program is to provide parking for long-term (apartment rental), short-term (short-term rentals), and owner-occupied residential units. This will allow the city to further its goals of promoting economic development, while preserving public parking during business hours”, City Manager Nate Heffron said.  

Current planning and zoning requirements require a certain number of parking spaces be available for residential units, whether this be long-term, short-term, or owner-occupied unit. Many property owners cannot meet these zoning requirements with their own property, and private parking is limited.  The lack of available parking has been found to negatively impact rental desirability, thereby discouraging economic development and activity within downtown.

Under this program, signs will be installed in downtown, city owned parking lots, indicating which parking spaces are available for permitted parking.  Each permitted space will be assigned a number associated with a specific space. The holder of the permit will be guaranteed parking from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM, year-round. All spaces, permitted or otherwise, shall remain available to the public between the hours of 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Provisions are in place for the need or snow removal or general maintenance.

Permitted parking spaces must be applied for, are limited, and will only be granted to property owners for long-term, short-term, or owner-occupied residential rentals. (See map on website for eligibility).

“Our hope is that this program will impact downtown in many positive ways. First among them, development. Getting out of our own way to help aid in development by finding a simple compromise will provide landowners this opportunity”, Heffron said.

This program will begin taking applications February 5th, 2024, through the Negaunee Police Department. To learn more about this program please visit the webpage.

Questions concerning this release may be directed to the attention of the City Manager, Nate Heffron at (906) 475-7700 ext. 11. (See attached program).