A proposal to offer a valet parking service in downtown Lake Orion should be back on the Village Council’s next agenda, but numerous downtown businesses are hoping the idea will not go forward.
Lloyd Coe, owner of Ed’s Broadway Gifts and Costume, presented signed petitions to the council at their July 24 meeting, stating that most of the downtown businesses had signed to oppose the idea of using public lots for valet parking.
Ted Schmidt of Lake Orion brought the idea before the council at the July 10 meeting. He said he would offer valet parking for a fee, utilizing public lots in the downtown, and approaching private businesses about using their lots if necessary.
Coe said the business owners he’d spoken to opposed that idea, and also opposed allowing Schmidt to use parking in front of Lucky’s Natural Foods as a drop-off zone for his operation.
‘We pay village taxes,? Coe said. ‘And we rely on the available parking for our businesses.?
Coe said he felt valet parking would only benefit the restaurants downtown, and Schmidt.
?(Schmidt) said he talked to most businesses, but most of us learned about this by reading it in the paper,? he said.
Coe said he appreciated that Schmidt had acknowledged that downtown has a parking problem, and was trying to solve it.
‘But his business venture to charge a fee is not fair, and it’s not the answer,? he said.
Coe said that the owners of Paparazzi and Heritage Spinning and Weaving were the only ones to not sign the petition, because they hadn’t yet decided if they were for or against the idea of valet parking.
Coe also presented a letter from the owner of Lucky’s with the petitions.
‘What if (Schmidt) could provide a private area (for valet parking)?? asked council member Douglas Dendel.
‘That would be the way I’d do it,? Coe said. ‘Then you’re helping the situation by creating more spaces.?
Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel said the proposal should be back on the council’s next meeting agenda, set for Aug. 14.