NIAGARA FALLS — A new zoning proposal under review by the Niagara Falls City Council would allow landowners in downtown districts to operate standalone, paid parking lots that now are prohibited.

The proposed zoning ordinances would allow landowners to apply for special permits to operate commercial parking lots.

Mayor Vince Anello supports the idea.

“If private enterprise views it as a good investment, I would have no objection to having private enterprise handle the parking needs as long as we don’t turn downtown into a disorganized, ill-conceived used car lot,” Anello said.

The commercial parking regulations are included in a proposed overhaul of the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances that are the first attempt to completely rewrite the codes since 1992.

If approved, the parking regulations would be a change from current city policy. The provision allowing standalone lots contrasts with other initiatives in the zoning proposal that seek to reduce parking requirements and discourage large surface parking lots.

However, the proposal would limit the standalone commercial lots to downtown districts near the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel and the Niagara Falls State Park and would require parking operators to add landscaping and other improvements to their sites.

Although standalone commercial lots are currently prohibited, two businessmen have been operating paid parking lots downtown.

Vince Catanzaro, who operates a paid parking lot at the corner of Niagara and First streets, obtained special permission from the city in the ’90s to operate a standalone parking lot after a hotel he owned on the land burned down.

Catanzaro said he would not recommend others to go into the parking business.

“The nature of the business ... people don’t understand it. It’s similar to owning a hotel with the occupancy rate being busy in the summer, and in the winter, there is no business,” Catanzaro said. “If the city wants to change its zoning or parking operations, I wouldn’t suggest it.”

Catanzaro is in a legal battle with the city over code citations on his property.

Another downtown businessman, Frank Parlato Jr., told the city last month he would shut down a paid parking lot he was operating on Rainbow Boulevard South until he receives a certificate of occupancy to re-open a nine-story glass building on the site.

Anello said the existing zoning codes are confusing for developers who are told they cannot operate a paid lot, but then see privately owned paid lots open downtown.

“We want to clarify and have all parties on a level playing field,” said Damon DeCastro, the city’s acting corporation counsel.

Contact reporter Denise Jewell

at 282-2311, ext. 2245.