Athens City Council talks residential parking; Kotses to vacate seat

Councilmember Peter Kotses introduced an ordinance that would expand a residential parking permit program at Monday night’s Athens City Council meeting.

If passed, the ordinance would expand an existing ordinance, which allows 72-hour parking on certain streets to the entire city of Athens. Under the new ordinance, if a resident has one or less off-street parking spaces, they can get a permit allowing them to park for 72 hours at a time.  

“I think that this ordinance may make a lot of people in Athens very happy, and I’m glad to see it coming forward since they will not have to go outside in the rain and stuff to move their cars at least for three days instead of one,” Councilmember Beth Clodfelter said. 

Councilmember Sarah Grace emphasized that if passed, the ordinance doesn’t automatically change all parking spots to 72-hour parking. Those who qualify have to apply for a permit with code enforcement. 

This was one of the last ordinances Kotses will introduce in front of Council, because he is resigning from his seat. Mayor Steve Patterson said Kotses will no longer be a member of Athens City Council starting April 10, and the Athens County Democratic Party will vote to replace his seat until the next election. 

Kotses said only the members of the Democratic Party that live in Athens will get a say in his replacement. The party hopes to fill Kotses’ seat before next Monday’s committee meeting. 

Council also introduced an ordinance that would temporarily close part of West Mulberry Street in Uptown Athens.

The road closure would allow individuals with the Appalachian Law Enforcement Initiative project to film staged scenarios that will later be used as part of virtual reality training for both the Athens Police Department and the Ohio University Police Department.  

The project was created by Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs and the university's GRID lab and with members of local law enforcement. 

Those involved with the project plan to film several staged scenarios, including a traffic stop and a protest. The scenarios will be used in virtual reality training, including at least one scenario to train officers on racial bias. 

If approved by Council, West Mulberry Street would be closed between Richland Avenue and Court Street on Sunday May 16 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

Councilmembers also discussed an ordinance that would amend a previous ordinance involving the University Estates neighborhood. 

Councilmember Chris Fahl said there is currently an opportunity to increase targeted house types in the University Estates neighborhood using tax increment financing (TIF). 

A TIF helps to keep money in a certain area, like the University Estates or East State Street, by allowing that area to use revenue from property taxes when they redevelop, repave or upgrade the area rather than money from the city’s general fund. 

They don’t get the full amount, though, Fahl said. It’s a 70%-to-30% split with schools or other entities that have access to property tax revenue. 

Fahl also said there seems to be confusion about what the affordable housing commission does. 

“Affordable housing is a certain degree – it’s not low-income housing and it’s not rich people housing – a lot of planners call it the mushy middle,” she said. 

For Athens, affordable housing is $150,000 to $240,000. This was established by an Ohio University-City of Athens working group who studied housing and created a housing plan/recommendation, Fahl said. 

The housing development would also fill a gap of universally designed housing in Athens. 

Universal design focuses on making homes safe and accessible for everyone, according to PBS.

Councilmember Clodfelter added that this would benefit elderly residents and people with some disabilities.