By Dave Fidlin
With a newly minted zoning code on its books, Whitewater officials are turning their attention toward a related issue that has frequently caused rumblings throughout the community.
The Common Council on June 3 gave City Manager Cameron Clapper and other municipal leaders the green light to proceed on plans for a parking summit. Participants on the panel will examine the city’s existing parking regulations and could offer suggested tweaks.
At various points during the nearly two-year zoning rewrite project, parking-related concerns had bubbled to the surface. But Clapper said inclusion of the issue within the zoning rewrite project proved too big of a task.
“In light of the complexity of the parking issue, and the various interests involved, the discussion of parking was removed from the project in favor of a more detailed evaluation of parking and parking code alternatives,” Clapper said.
As was the case with the zoning rewrite itself, the city will enlist the services of a consultant, Larry Witzling, with the engineering firm Graef. Witzling has expertise in zoning-related matters.
One of the key issues discussed last week by the council was about who specifically would serve on the summit’s task force. Clapper said he aimed to provide broad representation.
With input from the council thrown into the mix, plans call for participants to come from such entities as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Community Development Authority, Plan Commission and Downtown Whitewater Inc. Residents and other organizers – from single-family property owners to renters – also could be included in the process.
At last week’s meeting, Clapper also outlined the process he envisioned for the parking summit meetings.
“It has been the expectation of staff and the consultant that this summit would encompass up to two special meetings with stakeholders,” Clapper said.
The first meeting likely will be akin to a focus group and would entail Witzling and any other hired consultants making site visits throughout the community. During the first meeting, consultants would gather feedback from people concerned about the existing parking situation.
“Given the busy schedule of many who would or could be involved, this meeting would likely take the form of several smaller meetings throughout a daylong site visit,” Clapper said.
A follow-up meeting also would likely take place once the city receives an analysis from Witzling and other outside professionals. During the second meeting, Clapper said proposed parking alternatives could be discussed.
“Based on the feedback provided, the proposed alternatives … would then be brought back to the Common Council for review and approval,” he added.
While the parking summit is designed to have a citywide scope, consultants such as Witzling will likely narrow in on certain areas that were frequently discussed throughout the zoning rewrite review process.
In addition to input from Witzling, plans call for officials from Strand and Associates, the city’s stormwater consultant, to be involved in part of the discussions. Parking constraints and stormwater management have been viewed as dual issues of concern.
Specific dates for the parking summit meetings will be announced as plans are firmed up.
