MLive reports, pressure from downtown business and from the city's parking department means Grand Rapids won't be banning new surface parking lots downtown.
Though the city commission was initially considering banning new surface parking lots downtown - a practice in line with the GR Forward plan - it killed the idea after receiving pushback.
The city's parking department, Mobile GR, advised against the zoning change - as it needs surface lots to alleviate monthly permit stress in the core downtown.
Monthly downtown parking permits issued by the city are 95 percent full as well. The city is trying to mitigate that parking stress by building a new surface lot by Downtown Market.
Parking downtown was one of the top concerns of Grand Rapids businesses for this year, according to a survey conducted by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.