Downtown parking concerns raised to Sebring CRA as new projects arrive
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Summary
Craig Griffin, president and business owner in the CRA district, told the CRA board that closure of a bank parking lot is harming downtown businesses and urged the agency to address parking while new developments come online.
Craig Griffin, identifying himself as "president and business owner of the CRA District," used the meeting's public-comment period to urge the Sebring CRA to address a downtown parking shortage created by the closure of a nearby bank parking lot.
"The closing of the bank parking lot has been problematic," Griffin said, adding that existing vendors—particularly a business he named as Deeth—have seen customers stop coming because there is nowhere to park. Griffin cautioned that concentrating many businesses in a small area without sufficient parking risks undermining both existing and incoming enterprises.
The chair and staff said there was not an immediate plan for the privately owned lot; staff noted the situation is on the CRA's radar and that owners of other nearby properties are also considering parking arrangements. Griffin urged the CRA to "put some serious thought into where you're going to park people" while the lot remains closed.
The board did not adopt a specific mitigation plan during the meeting; the issue was recorded as public comment for future consideration by staff and the CRA board.