MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Mount Dora city leaders are working to implement parking solutions to accommodate the number of visitors coming downtown. 

In January, the city council held a workshop to discuss ideas to curb the stress of finding a place to park. Some suggestions include a shuttle system for residents, converting parking lots into golf cart lots or a pay for parking program.

Despite frustrations, city council members said they feel the downtown area has enough parking and suggested during their March 2 meeting to find better ways of directing drivers to those parking spots through maps and signs.

“We think maybe there are opportunities there to do a better job of directing people off of 5th, directing people off of Donnelly to get to those lots,” said Mount Dora City Councilman Doug Bryant.

They also hope to inform more people about the city’s free shuttle app call Freebee.

The city will also consider converting some streets into a one-way direction, which would allow for additional parking spaces.

While an unpopular solution, city leaders said they are researching possible pay for parking companies.

Businesses say the lack of parking, and potential prices, may turn customers away.

“Parking can be pretty bad. You know, sometimes we have to park around the block,” said Magic Tea Market employee Emma Pritoni. “It’s hard to get a spot right out front, so you have to do a little bit of walking.”

“If I was going somewhere and I couldn’t find a place to park, I would probably leave. So that’s, that’s bad,” she added.

And while Pritoni is glad that city leaders are discussing solutions to the parking problems, she feels that making people pay for parking won’t solve anything.

“I don’t think people want to pay for parking because it’s already expensive down here, so I wouldn’t pay for parking,” Pritoni said.