The new parking lot in downtown Kent will have expanded public hours in 2013.

Kent City Council voted Wednesday in committee to change the hours of restriction for the 110-plus lot in the middle of the downtown redevelopment block.

Council voted at the recommendation of city administrators to expand the hours of the lot, which is limited to parking for employees of AMETEK and the Davey Resource Group during the day.

The lot had been by permit only from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on week days with public parking available starting at 6 p.m. and on weekends.

The new hours will permit public parking in the lot starting at 5 p.m. on week days.

Kent City Manager Dave Ruller said representatives for both AMETEK and Davey Tree, for whom the lot was built for day-time use, signed off on the change.

"Parking’s been at a premium until the parking garage opens … which is still scheduled for March,” Ruller said. “In the meantime, we’ve probably had discussions with downtown folks … I’d say at least once a week with various parking issues."

Council voted to amend its lease with Fairmount Properties, the developer that's leasing the lot for the two firms to use during the day.