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Sisk replied that there currently is property available across the street from a proposed <br />development downtown and questioned why the business owner isn't pursuing that for parking. <br />Hartronft replied that the result of this ordinance might be that business owners purchase <br />property to provide reserved parking for their customers. That creates a problem because it would <br />require more than two spaces per 1,000 square feet. resulting in more asphalt in the downtown <br />area. This would not deter a big developer, however, it does not help the small business owner. <br />Sisk questioned why the Downtown Business Association has not put together a parking district <br />which would allow them to operate this with the City's cooperation. <br />Hartronft replied that the responses they have received to their surveys indicate that taxation for <br />an improvement district was a very unpopular idea but they do have support for an impact fee. <br />He stated that support for the impact fee is based upon a smaller impact fee and that it would not <br />affect someone doing a small addition to their existing building. <br />Sisk questioned what Hartronft felt the impact fee should be. <br />Hartronft replied he felt it should be around $2,500. He also stated that he believes part of that <br />impact fee should go toward capital costs. <br />Sisk agreed with Hartronft on use of the impact fees. <br />Keany stated that he believes it is difficult to identify what is considered to be retail unless the <br />definition is clarified. He agreed with Ronda Grassi's statement that requiring payment of a <br />parking impact fee in addition to purchasing a parking permit is paying for a parking space twice. <br />Levihn stated that there are several conflicts in this discussion. The Downtown Business <br />Association does not want to leave the amount of the parking impact fee for Council to determine <br />nor do they want to be held to the Commercial Development Design Guidelines. He has not <br />experienced any difficulty finding a parking space downtown, yet Council has been accused of <br />dropping the ball on the parking issue. He believes that the Design Guidelines and parking <br />should be done together and that there are too many unanswered questions to make a decision <br />tonight. <br />Davidson stated that he does not believe this is a good solution for parking. The City has <br />historically provided parking for retail customers only and not for employees. To the extent <br />excess parking was available, and not designated as two -hour parking, it's been allowed to be <br />used by anyone who wanted to use it. Passing this ordinance changes that. The City will provide <br />parking for employees of private businesses downtown for a fee. He questioned how an office <br />worker in downtown Louisville would require less parking space than a worker in an office park. <br />The City would be providing a huge subsidy by supplying the parking for employees of private <br />businesses. He does not believe that should be a City responsibility, either downtown or in. a <br />13 <br />