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By David Walsh

PHOTO: A proclamation was made at Tuesday’s BOMA meeting to honor Sept. 18, 2019, as American Legion Day in Franklin. With Mayor Ken Moore (left) are American Legion members Jackson Patterson, Jim Howard and Danny Scott, and Alderman-at-Large Clyde Barnhill. / Photo by John McBryde

By JOHN McBRYDE

The parking limit on West Main Street between Fifth and Seventh avenues in downtown Franklin will increase from two hours to four after city aldermen voted 5-2 in favor of the change at Tuesday night’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting.

Casting “no” votes were Alderman-at-Large Anne Peterson and Alderman Scott Speedy from Ward 3. The vote was the second and final reading on the resolution.

City staff had presented seven options to either alter the parking limit on that two-block stretch of West Main after a request from Alderman Margaret Martin, 4th Ward. She had heard from constituents who had voiced concern about the change to two-hour limits on much of the public parking in the downtown area. That came as a result of aldermen approving the new ordinance in July 2018.

During discussion Tuesday night, Martin motioned for an amendment that would leave the two-hour limit as is between Fifth and Sixth avenues but change it to four hours between Sixth and Seventh. That was met with strong rebuttal from Alderman Dana McLendon, 2ndWard, and was ultimately defeated.

“We are never going to arrive at the perfect parking solution until we fiddle with parking,” said McLendon, who joined Alderman-at-Large Brandy Blanton in voting against the change to two-hour parking a year ago. “We’re always going to have people pushing and shoving [over parking]… There is never going to be a consensus. We are going to make someone mad every time we do this.

“We need to stop doing this. I would love it if we could get back to four hours everywhere because I don’t think any of this has been an improvement. … I’m speaking against this motion to amend because that’s confusing. We’re piecemealing up downtown. I’m going to vote for four hours every time I get the chance … because it’s logical.”

On another matter at the board meeting, aldermen voted unanimously to allow a referendum for the annexation of several properties located south of Long Lane, east of Interstate 65 and outside of the southeastern part of the Franklin urban growth boundary.

The referendum will be only for those residents and owners of the 26 properties to be annexed and will be held Oct. 22, in conjunction with the city of Franklin election scheduled for that day.