A proposed change to Jim Thorpe Borough’s permit parking ordinance would give non-permit holders a chance at around 15 spots on upper West Broadway and High Street during normal weekday business hours.

Jim Thorpe enacted permit parking last year allowing residents who live on Broadway, West Broadway, High Street, Race Street, Hill Road and Quarry Street to purchase an annual permit for $15. The permit grants them a chance to park from 5-415 W. Broadway or anywhere on High Street without receiving a ticket.

Since then, however, council has heard from business owners and residents outside of the permit area who said several of the spots, particularly near the Stabin Museum and Café Arielle at 268 W. Broadway, and along High Street, are underutilized.

Council is proposing allowing non-permit holders to park in the designated spots from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday for the regular meter rate of $1 per hour. Permit holders would still be able to park in those spots at no additional cost beyond their annual permit fee.

“The residents like the ordinance the way it is now as it gives them a chance to park near their homes, but we’ve heard from some businesses that would like some more opportunity for their employees and customers to park in these areas,” Councilman Michael Rivkin said during a council workshop Thursday. “There is no one perfect answer for everyone, but this is a compromise. On nights, weekends and holidays, these spots would revert to regular permit parking where only the permit holders could park there.”

John Drury, owner of the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center on West Broadway, said while the proposed change is a move in the right direction to help his employees find parking, it doesn’t solve everything,

“We have been parking on High Street behind our building for 30 years,” Drury said. “Now there is no parking except permits. Those spaces are always empty now. The weekdays are OK, but we have a lot of weddings on weekends and evening events where our employees are working.”

Borough President Greg Strubinger said though there have been comments that the High Street spaces are underutilized by current permit holders, those residents liked the fact that the area served as overflow parking for them during busy times.”

Joan Morykin, who runs Café Arielle at the Stabin Museum, said earlier this year that the business’ sales revenue is down 22% since the original ordinance was enacted.

“People will start driving up West Broadway and see the permit parking signs and they turn around before they even get up to us,” she told council. “We employ kids working their way through college and this is a definite hardship financially.”

On the flip side, Jim Gilmore, a West Broadway resident, leads a group of permit holders who regularly applaud council on the ordinance.

“We tried for years for this ordinance so that we would have a chance to park, not in front of our house, but just somewhere near our house,” Gilmore said. “We couldn’t go away weekends before. I think it’s working out good so far.”

Council has several specifics to iron out before voting on any ordinance change, such as how long non-permit holders will be able to park in the available spaces.

In other downtown areas, motorists can only park in a metered space for five hours at a time.

“I think the easiest thing to do is keep it consistent at that five-hour limit,” Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said.