The Flowery Branch City Council (FBCC) is expected to take up a downtown parking expansion plan when it meets Thursday, with a proposal that would add approximately 87 new public parking spaces along Railroad Avenue.
The council will consider approving a $1.3 million capital project funded through the city’s Tax Allocation District (TAD) to help address long-discussed parking needs in the downtown area. In addition to new parking, the project would include sidewalk construction, drainage work and related improvements designed to support continued growth and redevelopment downtown.
According to city documents, additional public parking has been under consideration for several years as downtown activity and investment have increased. City staff asked ESG Engineering to develop a concept for parking and pedestrian improvements along Railroad Avenue and the adjacent railroad right-of-way. The proposed plan would create about 87 spaces through a combination of angled and 90-degree parking configurations while extending pedestrian access from Spring Street along the railroad corridor.
The project also calls for sidewalk improvements, stormwater drainage infrastructure, fencing and other associated enhancements. City officials note that the final cost and scope of the drainage work could vary depending on conditions encountered during the design process.
Beyond parking, the concept envisions a pedestrian corridor featuring sidewalks or trails along portions of the railroad corridor. Landscaping and additional aesthetic improvements could also be incorporated into the final design.
Staff is recommending approval of a $1.3 million project budget, saying the funding level would provide flexibility for the anticipated improvements and related project needs.
If approved, the proposal would next be submitted to Norfolk Southern for review and approval because of its proximity to the railroad right-of-way.
(This is an AI-assisted story.)