quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

I’ve worked for municipal governemnt in the engineering department in the past, parking space is usually dicated by ordinance such as X number of tables = X number of spaces required. Not all local governments are that fussy but mine sure was and is!

City goverment is the key. One of my favorite local restuarants is looking to move to a new location and they have been stalled, at various points for various reasons, but the one that is giving them the most headache is a city ordinance requiring them to pay for a certain number of parking spaces, in advance, to the city government. Not a bad racket for our rather small town — a new restaurant opens up, they sell the licensing for the parking spaces (for what sounds to me like an outrageous sum) and get their money up front, whether or not the restaurant succeeds.

The scary thing is that this place has their own, self-contained parking lot — which is already paved and ready for business, on their own property. I am not sure how the city comes up with their formula for payment, but this sounds excessive to me, and a huge deterrance to new businesses.