NAPLES, Fla. — Naples City Council is discussing parking changes that could include an underground parking facility, according to meeting notes from August 16th.
This is the second time city leadership has workshopped this idea to improve downtown congestion since June.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Naples City Council discusses possible downtown parking changes
“You are effectively approving underground bathtubs with hazardous substances below multi-story developments and thousands of people,” said Joan Fiore, a Naples resident who spoke at the city council meeting Wednesday.
Fiore argued to the council that recent storms, including Hurricane Ian, have shown underground facilities could be dangerous.
“We all know saltwater starts fires, and there will be cars on fire underneath these buildings,” concluded Fiore.
Other residents asked the city council to prioritize ongoing projects before focusing attention and money on a new one.
“When there is a disaster, I would urge you to focus on things like rebuilding the pier and getting beach accesses open. How much money is it going to cost… I don’t think it’s a good use of resources,” said Falconer Jones of Falcon Design Inc.
This is just a discussion topic, and no decisions regarding city policy have been made.
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