BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
Downtown Clarkston has a parking problem for Clarkston Conservatory of Music at 49 S. Main Street, said Giselle Graham, Kindermusik director at the conservatory, at the Oct. 10 City Council meeting.
“We are definitely having an issue on parking,” said Graham, speaking during public comment. “We have 150 families come weekly – I’m getting complaints every single day they come to class.”
Parents say they are not able to find parking in the Depot Park parking lot, which is the safest place for dropping off children, she said.
“Main Street is crazy,” she said, presenting a petition of more than 85 families to the council. “I’ve been telling my families to arrive 15-25 minutes early to find a parking spot. It’s been very frustrating.”
The parking issue was added to the city council agenda at the meeting. Mayor Joe Luginski called for a parking study provided by the Traffic Improvement Association last month to be released publicly.
“My opinion is it’s already out,” Luginski said. “I don’t think it’s a big deal. We’ll get it on the website and have copies available.”
The mayor said he saw no reason why it not released to the public before.
Council member Sharron Catallo, member of the city parking committee which received the report on Sept. 13, said the committee had wanted points clarified first.
TIA conducted its parking count in June.
According to the TIA report, when Honchos and the restaurant in the former Clarkston State Bank both open, downtown will be short 26 parking spaces.
TIA recommendations include creating new parking spaces, working with private lot owners for more access, offsite parking, using shuttle or valet service, and further study when restaurants open.
A parking inventory by TIA earlier this year counted 394 parking spaces in public and private lots available for use by the public at least after normal business hours, not including those on East Washington Street and East Church Street.
They counted vehicles in the parking lots on June 30, at approximately 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. During the first count, they found 269 vehicles parked, taking up 74.3 percent of available spaces. The second count showed 255 vehicles, 69.9 percent.
Three lots, Health Quest, Creekside Salon, and the lot across Depot Road from City Hall, do not allow public usage after their normal business hours. With the gated closing of one parking lot, 56 spaces, on Depot Street after June 30, it is calculated that between 82.7 and 87.9 percent of the spaces are used.
The two new restaurants will require an additional 192 parking spaces, pushing usage over 100 percent.
Honchos includes seating for 95 patrons inside and 20 outside. The estimated parking requirement is for 69 vehicles, based on the ordinance requirement of 0.6 spaces per seat ratio. The site plan shows six proposed on-street parking spaces on Church and Main streets.
The restaurant plan for the former bank includes seating for 114 on the main floor, 71 on the lower level, and 20 outside. Estimated parking requirement is 123 vehicles, using 0.6 spaces per seat.
City Council granted parking waivers to the restaurants when they were approved last year, under ordinance Section 20.02U, General Requirements, Parking Space Deferment.

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