Savannah staff preview parking ordinance after stakeholder outreach; council asks for more engagement

Savannah staff told council on Monday they intend to move forward on an updated Parking Matters study that would expand regulated and metered parking in parts of the urban core to protect residential parking and increase turnover.

Kim Sanderson, speaking for parking and mobility services, summarized outreach with institutional stakeholders—St. Vincent's Academy, religious institutions and neighborhood groups—and said staff are exploring targeted solutions such as student parking stickers and seasonal flexibility. "The whole purpose of Parking Matters is to protect residential parking and to create churn in those spaces," a staff member said.

Council members raised operational concerns: resident equity across districts, seasonal changes tied to the SCAD academic calendar, enforcement logistics and the interaction between proposed parking changes and potential traffic‑pattern work on Whitaker and Drayton streets. Staff emphasized that traffic‑pattern changes are not part of the Parking Matters ordinance and would require separate review by council.

Next steps: staff said they will continue stakeholder engagement, run seasonal demand analyses (noting SCAD student move‑in/move‑out peaks), and prepare an ordinance for council consideration in August. Staff also committed to a workshop on development services and right‑of‑way permitting to address concerns about construction impacts on on‑street parking.