MOUNT DORA, Fla. – The Mount Dora City Council is considering new strategies to address the parking crunch in the bustling downtown area, with potential solutions on the agenda for discussion at Tuesday’s meeting.

The vibrant downtown, lined with a variety of shops, art galleries, and eateries, has long struggled with insufficient parking, complicating visits for both locals and tourists.

Kathleen Leonard, a resident of Mount Dora, noted, “Evenings and weekends are a different ballgame altogether when it comes to finding a spot.”

Similarly, Janea Knowles from nearby Sorrento shared, “Timing your visit strategically is crucial to avoid the parking headache.”

This parking predicament is a well-known topic among locals, frequently surfacing in community discussions.

On Tuesday, one of the proposals the city council could approve is a deal that would create 25 spaces in a parking lot at the corner of Alexander and 5th Street. However, those spaces would be exclusively for golf carts and motorcycles.

“I love the idea of allowing more golf carts, and we have a golf cart, and I’d love to be able to come to downtown with my golf cart,” Leonard said.

Linda Bramer, who works for Piglet’s Pantry in the heart of downtown, also liked the idea of golf carts and motorcycles having dedicated spaces.

“That’ll free up a lot because on the weekends we do get a lot of motorcycles and golf carts,” Bramer said.

Another solution the city is looking at is turning Tremain, Alexander and Baker streets into one-ways. If the city moves forward with this, there would be 49 parallel parking spaces between all three streets.

Meanwhile, Mayor James Homich said the one-way roads may make it easier for people to get around downtown.

“I think we got a positive impact. But you’re talking one or two spaces. It’s not going to be a major change,” Homich said. “It’s just going to be designated parking. So it’s not a mishmash. Yeah, an enforcement nightmare. ”

However, Homich was hoping by turning the streets into one-ways, it would generate more parking spaces.

“I regret that we can’t expand our parking inventory with the one-ways, but it is what the engineers make it,” Homich said.

Homich also said the city is still looking into some paid parking options. However, that proposal is not on Tuesday’s agenda.

Mount Dora’s city council meeting will take place Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.