With paid parking planned for part of downtown St. Joseph starting this summer, city commissioners have heard an earful from residents both in support of and opposed to the plan. At their regular meeting on Monday, it was mostly the latter as a group of downtown business owners who met last week to draft a letter of opposition came out to voice their frustrations.

Lisa Miller of Forever Clean Soapworks read that letter, making several requests of commissioners.

“Number one, parking passes to all businesses, owners and their employees for the duration of the paid parking,” Miller said. “Parking passes for all downtown and local residences, including new residences, for the duration of the paid parking.”

Miller also asked that Pleasant Street not be blocked off for the summer to allow for additional spaces.

The meeting wasn’t always cordial. Complaints ranged from safety concerns about pedestrians having to cross Main Street to get from the free parking on the east side to the west side to worries that St. Joe’s small town character is being lost.

Although Monday’s turnout was intended as a show of force from those against the parking plan, there were some residents present who support it. They included DDA Chair Tom Gawlik, who said a lot of careful study went into the plan.

“I appreciate the emotions are obviously very high at this juncture, understandably,” Gawlik said. “So let’s give this an opportunity to work, give it a few months, give it this year, and let’s see what happens.”

Rick Molitar of The Market said the plan isn’t the result of some evil plot, but an effort to address longstanding parking issues downtown. Some insisted the downtown will see a drop in visitors and its businesses will die.

The public comments continued for over an hour as the May 15 start date approaches and pay stations are installed around the downtown.