City to explain rationale, fee structure and exemptions at Songwol-dong community center Thursday
Naju is drawing up a plan to introduce paid parking at its public lots downtown, aiming to curb long-term parking and improve turnover at spaces that have grown increasingly congested, and is now seeking public input before moving forward.
The city announced Wednesday that it will hold a public hearing on the proposed conversion at the Songwol-dong Community Service Center at 10 a.m. Thursday.
The hearing was prompted by a decline in parking turnover at city-run lots, where campervans, caravans and long-term parked vehicles have been occupying spaces and leaving residents and visitors unable to find parking when they need it.
Naju is considering introducing fees at public lots across different zones as one measure to improve the efficiency of its parking operations and ease the shortage of parking spaces in the city center.
Before formally rolling out the system, the city plans to brief residents on the rationale and necessity of the change, outline a phased implementation schedule and gather a wide range of public views.
At the hearing, officials will explain which lots would be subject to fees, how the system would be structured, the proposed rate schedule, operating hours and eligibility for fee reductions or exemptions.
Participants will also discuss ways to improve turnover so that drivers who need a space can actually find one — particularly by addressing long-term parking and the informal privatization of public spaces.
The city also plans to examine the financial burden on residents and the potential impact on local businesses, and to discuss how the system can be run in a way that suits local conditions while improving convenience. Feedback gathered at the hearing will be carefully reviewed and incorporated into the detailed operational plan.
"Converting public parking lots to paid use is intended to improve turnover so that all residents can use them more conveniently," a city official said. "We will listen carefully to what residents have to say and take a comprehensive look at parking conditions by area and the potential effects on local commerce before putting together a sound policy."
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
