Clayton considers PILOT program allowing largely free parking for shoppers & diners

CLAYTON, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A proposal in Clayton would allow parking essentially for free if you shop or dine in downtown Clayton.

City leaders are mulling over an idea to make downtown Clayton more welcoming and attract more visitors.

“In a heartbeat, I would be here in Clayton if I had free parking,” said Colette Brown, who lives in Maplewood but came to Clayton on Monday to pay taxes.

She told First Alert 4 that she may come back more if Clayton passes a pilot program.

“This may be just the thing to entice them to come and spend their money here,” said Brown.

Clayton leaders are currently discussing a pilot program that largely eliminates parking fees for shoppers and diners.

Currently, Clayton charges a relatively low $1.50 per hour, with a two-hour limit, and parking is free on nights and weekends.

Under the proposal, drivers would have to validate parking at a shop or restaurant and pay only a 20-cent processing fee on weekdays.

“There’s certainly this perception from pretty much everyone in the area that Clayton doesn’t have any parking,” said Clayton Mayor Bridget McAndrew.

McAndrew told First Alert 4 that to fight that perception, the town will be posting LED signs alerting you to available parking in garages.

But still, other area towns like Kirkwood and Webster Groves offer free two-hour parking lots.

While she said Clayton can’t feasibly do that due to businesses in the core, the town came up with this strategy to market itself.

“I think it’s a way to say to our retailers we hear you, we value you, and if this is a way that can help your sales then I think it’s a really important idea to consider,” said McAndrew.

The public backs the idea.

" All businesses can prosper,” said Terrace Hudson of Chesterfield. “If the parking was free, I would spend my money in the restaurants and bars like everybody else.”

Many people don’t like paying to park.

“I hate it, I hate it,” said Eric Simmons of Ladue.

The parking changes come as Clayton will soon launch another pilot program bringing in food trucks during the week, and renovations to the old 7-Up building are already underway to convert it into apartments to grow Clayton’s population. Mayor McAndrew says a few other sites downtown are ripe for development.

“If you get more people living around here, that will support more retail, that will support more service-oriented businesses,” said McAndrew.

All of this is in the early stages.

First Alert 4 asked for specifics on this potential legislation but was told that it’s not yet ready for public consumption.

We do know this could go before Clayton’s council next month.