Georgetown officials may expand a downtown three-hour parking zone to encompass more parking spaces in an effort to improve parking availability in the city's downtown core.

Jackson Daly, assistant to the city manager for the city of Georgetown, told City Council members during a presentation Tuesday that the plan would expand the parking zone to include four new locations:

  •  The north side of West Eighth Street between South Rock and Martin Luther King streets

  • A portion of the south side of West Eighth Street between South Rock and Forest streets

  • The east and west sides of South Main Street between West Ninth and West Tenth streets

  • The west side of South Church Street between East Eighth and East Ninth streets




Georgetown's seven-member City Council voted, 6-0, Tuesday to approve an initial reading of an ordinance to expand the parking zone. District 2 Council Member Valerie Nicholson was absent from the council's Tuesday meeting.

Council members will need to approve the ordinance on a second vote at a later date before changes take effect.

Georgetown's downtown three-hour parking zone covers several blocks on and around the downtown Square. Parking in the area is free but restricted to a length of three hours at a time.

Daly said city staff has also recommended allowing the installation of 15-minute parking spaces in certain areas of the parking zone on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of nearby businesses.

Expanding the parking zone would carry no financial impact as existing resources could be used to mark new parking spots and install signage, according to city documents.