ZELIENOPLE — The public got its first look Monday night at the design for the new borough parking lot.

A rough draft for the new parking lot between Main and South Clay Streets was revealed at the borough council meeting with different ideas than previously stated.

The design by Herbert, Rowland & Grubic calls for 107 parking spaces, about 50 to 60 less than previous estimates.

The lot will have one primary entry point on its southern portion.

“When you deal with a historical environment like this, you have inherent complexities,” said senior landscape architect Jim Feath.

However the design has more pedestrian-friendly amenities including a seat wall, a grass courtyard, an art installation and a pedestrian corner on its northwest corner.

The lot is one phase of the borough’s revitalization project. Seven properties were bought by the borough earlier this year and were leveled earlier this month to make room for it.

Groundbreaking for the new lot is to be in the spring.

The design has two parking kiosks, two dumpster enclosures and trees planted on landscape islands.

It also calls for a retaining wall on the north side and fences on the lot’s north and south sides.

Council members had differing opinions on the number of parking spaces.

Council President Allen Bayer said more spaces could be created by removing the trees.

“I want every conceivable parking space I think we can get,” Bayer said. “We don’t need trees. We don’t need courtyards, and we don’t need play areas.”

Feath said about six new spaces would be created as a result of island removal.

However, council member Mary Hess said for the revitalization project to be successful, the parking lot needs the aesthetic touch.

To that end, some businesses gave up parking areas behind their businesses to accommodate the parking design.

“All of these people donated their parking lots with the assumption that they were going to get improvements to the rears of their buildings,” Hess said.

Council member Gregg Semel also said aesthetics are needed.

“If you just roll blacktop in, you’ll park a lot more cars, but it wouldn’t look great,” Semel said.

Shelly Kaltenbaugh, code enforcement and zoning officer, read from the borough ordinance regarding landscape islands.

“Where lots exceed 30 spaces, one landscaping island shall be provided at least every 15 spaces in each row,” Kaltenbaugh read.

The ordinance also says landscaping islands should have a minimum width of 8 feet.

Another concern was the slope down West New Castle Street that measures between 8 and 10 feet.

Feath said the slope is not required to meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines because that area is not the primary entrance to the Kaufman House, one of the buildings in front of the lot.

However, Feath said the option to make the parking lot more level will be explored.

“There’s going to be continued coordination with the architect,” Feath said.

One way to level the lot is to build the retaining wall almost all the way around the lot. Council members said some slope is needed for storm drainage.

“I envision there will be a gentle slope on the parking surface. This will essentially be a tabletop with enough slope to allow water to fall from the back of the buildings toward Clay Street,” Feath said.

Two areas of permeable pavers are also included in the design. The advantage of permeable pavers is to lessen storm runoff.

Council will meet with adjacent property owners and the revitalization committee to get their perspectives on the design.