It could be awhile before a residential parking ordinance comes back to the New Albany City Council for second and third readings.

The measure was passed 7-2 on its initial ballot last month, but has been tabled to allow a committee comprised of Councilmen Jack Messer, Pat McLaughlin and Steve Price to debate the merits of the proposed legislation.

As suggested, residents would be able to pay the city for a designated parking spot in front of their homes if they don’t have off-street parking. It would be 20 feet long and would have signage warning motorists the spot is reserved.

The push for the change was made by members of the Uptown Neighborhood Association who cited traffic congestion that keeps residents in the Uptown area from being able to park in front of, or even near their homes.

McLaughlin acknowledged finding a parking spot can be difficult in those neighborhoods, but said unintended consequences from passing the ordinance could occur.

If the availability of a residential parking spot becomes popular, he said it could lead to a sea of signage that would hurt the aesthetic appeal of New Albany neighborhoods.

The committee met for the first time last week and McLaughlin said several issues were mentioned by the residents that attended and the council members on the committee.

“The more questions that were asked, it became apparent that we’re really going to have to have a few more brainstorm sessions,” he said.

Which will likely mean several meetings spread out to address a number of concerns, McLaughlin said.

For example, what kind of impact would the ordinance have on outlying neighborhoods in the city? Would reserving a parking spot cause disputes and lead to extra work for the police department? Should residents be able to claim a piece of public property for their own use?

New Albany resident Randy Smith addressed the council with some of his objections to the proposal and also attended the initial committee meeting.

He said supporters of the ordinance may find the qualms of those currently opposed to the measure to be hypothetical and a “stretch of the imagination”, but to him they’re tangible.

“Some people believe they’re very possible,” Smith said.

Financial, safety and discrimination issues are among the potential problems Smith sees with the ordinance.

New Albany resident Randy Bulleit said he respects Smith’s opinion, but added Jeffersonville runs a similar program that is both profitable to the city and its residents.

Bulleit also addressed the council and committee and spoke in favor of the ordinance which he said he has researched for more than a year and helped form. His council representative, Diane McCartin-Benedetti, sponsored the measure and Bulleit said it’s based on what other cities have already implemented.

In essence, Bulleit said the program is intended to help inner-city neighborhoods where off-street parking is scarce. It would improve property values and increase home ownership, he said.

Jeffersonville charges $100 for a permit for one year and Bulleit said he requested and received letters of support from Jeffersonville officials regarding their program.

“Basically it’s a benefit to the taxpayer in New Albany who has residential parking problems in the urban neighborhoods,” he said.

Bulleit believes the best way to test the idea is to designate a pilot period so the impact of designating residential parking spaces can be weighed.

“If it works great. If it doesn’t we’ll just go on with our lives,” he said.