From Staff Reports

HENDERSONVILLE —The City of Hendersonville’s first-ever parking deck, which is nearing completion, will be opening soon, so the parking downtown will change from free to $2/hour, beginning March 1, to help cover the costs of the parking garage.

“Assistant City Manager Brian Pahle last week presented to the (Hendersonville) City Council new parking rates and other charges the city will impose in the new parking environement downtown,” the Hendersonville Lightning reported in its Jan. 11 edition. “He reminded council members that they’ve been hearing during the entire three-year parking deck discussion that ‘you can’t have parking that is convenient, available and free....

“‘In order to make parking available and convenient — and to cover debt service on our $9.6 million parking deck — the city is eliminating free” parking.

The Lightning also quoted Pahle as saying, “At one of the meetings we heard, “Seniors should get a discount. ADA spots should pay for parking.’ ‘Not me’ was what the result was” in public comments,  Pahle said. ‘Everybody wants convenient available parking. Someone has to pay.”

Besides the $2/hour parking fee on Main Street and adjoining avenues, others changes will be imposed, including many parking violation fines doubling from $25 to $50.