KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Kalamazoo’s Downtown Development Authority has approved a proposal to make downtown Kalamazoo more pedestrian friendly but at the expense of drivers over the next five years, and it would begin with a hike in parking fines.
It calls for a 50 to 100% increase in the fines for 54-different parking violations a driver can be cited for downtown.
A parking meter violation would jump from $10 to $15 and parking in a handicapped zone would cost $75 if you pay immediately.
After a week most fines would double and then increase again after two weeks and again after a month.
Kalamazoo parents say it would make use of the library, the Museum and other downtown amenities too expensive.
Others say it could dissuade people from participating in meetings at City Hall.
Long term the plan also calls for increasing parking rates and extending enforcement later into the evening.
They also want to decrease the number of available parking spaces downtown to encourage the use of alternative transportation.
Commissioners will receive the report and a revised ordinance hiking parking fines tonight
. A vote would come later.
