Businesses across Lake Charles may be breathing a sigh of relief in the future thanks to the Downtown Development Authority Board’s proposed parking ordinance. During the board’s monthly meeting Tuesday, an ordinance to increase the street parking time limit by 30 minutes was presented and will be reviewed at the Sept. 18 City Council meeting.

The streets include Broad, Clarence, Pine, Price, Bilbo, Division, Gill, Hodges, Iris, Kirby, Mill, Pithon and Pujo.

Lori Marinovich, the executive director of downtown development, said the new ordinances are an important issue for the local community. The current 60 minute time limits on select streets have been affecting businesses and their customers.

“We’ve created a parking ordinance for the district where the time will be 90 minutes, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” Marinovich said. “We always make sure to talk to our stakeholders and with this, they liked it.”

The board also highlighted the coming culmination of the Ryan Streetscape Project. The event will take place at the 1911 Historic City Hall at 1001 Ryan St.

“It’s kind of a chance to show off the amenities we put in,” Marinovich said. “People will have the chance to walk the street, do activities and meet the people who did all of the hard work.”

Businesses across Lake Charles may be breathing a sigh of relief in the future thanks to the Downtown Development Authority Board’s proposed parking ordinance. During the board’s monthly meeting Tuesday

Michelle Higginbotham