City of Arroyo Grande to fix parking woes

For many people parking in downtown Arroyo Grande is a hot button issue.

“I drove around and around and around and found a place finally but it probably took 10 minutes – it was discouraging,” says Craig Clifton, a visitor from Bakersfield.

“I was able to park in front of the business I’m going into which is very good luck because usually that doesn’t happen,” says Connie Rose, a A.G. resident.

Now the city is stepping in to try and begin fixing this problem by identifying areas both commercial and residential to begin studying the traffic flow.

“The balance is going to be how to grow in those areas without impact the quality of life within those neighborhoods and providing efficient land use opportunities and use of land use,” explains Community Development Director, City of Arroyo Grande, Teresa McClish.

While some residents aren’t sure much can be done, others have ideas of their own.

“In the city here parking is a huge issue and right across the street [from the Wildflowers Salon] we can put a huge parking lot that I think would serve everybody,” Todd Machado tells us.

If you’d like to give your input, the Planning Commission meets the first and third Tuesday of the month.