Business owners, city leaders discuss opening Canton Street promenade

ROSWELL, Ga. — A proposal to close a busy area in downtown Roswell to vehicle traffic has prompted pushback from businesses and an apology from Mayor Kurt Wilson over the lack of communication and public input.

Under the proposal, a section of Canton Street would become more pedestrian-friendly for the summer. Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach was at a Tuesday meeting, where the mayor got an earful from Roswell citizens.

For almost two hours, the mayor and members of the city council listened to opponents of closing the street to vehicles. The mayor admitted during that meeting that it was his fault for not getting input on the plan first from the public.

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Mayor Wilson said he didn’t properly communicate that the shutdown would be for the summer, and would only impact part of Canton Street, leaving it open to foot traffic.

A compromise that was pitched was to only close the street to vehicles on weekends, but some businesses were still unhappy about the planning process.

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“I think the businesses of the historic district feel a little like a kicked dog,” Ryan Pernice, a business owner, said during the meeting.

While not all business owners were happy about the plan, some small business owners who came to a discussion session on Tuesday morning said they could see some profit by making the area more pedestrian-friendly, if the “Canton Street Promenade” was made.

But a majority said the move would hurt businesses and cut off access.

“It’s our livelihoods, it’s our livelihoods,” said one person at the session.

Of the issues with the proposal, the biggest problem was parking, according to those at the meetings. They told Channel 2 Action News that it isn’t realistic to make those changes until a parking garage was completed, in about two years.

Communication was another problem for them.

“We’re not universally opposed to this idea, not all for it,” Pernice said “Range of where we all stand, just wanted to get our voices heard on what we think the issues are.”

Mayor Wilson said he wasn’t trying to keep the plans a secret, but moved fast. He’s now promising more engagement and an ongoing conversation.

“Long term, improving the quality of life, activate the already great area, make it safer,” Wilson said. “The thing we thought intuitively and logically is that it would significantly benefit the businesses on Canton Street.”

The Roswell City Council is holding another public discussion on the planning next Tuesday. Any plan would have to be voted on and approved by council to move forward.

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