MARIETTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Fall is inarguably the best time of year in Marietta Square.

“I love how homegrown it feels,” said Erica, a Marietta resident.

In future years, you might see golf carts rolling through the square.

The Marietta City Council’s Public Safety Committee opened discussions last week on possibly permitting golf carts in parts of the city, including the square.

“I bet it would be convenient for the people that live close,” Erica said.

Not everyone is open to the idea.

“I don’t want to see golf carts in Marietta,” said Frank, also a Marietta resident.

But there’s no doubt that golf carts are selling like hotcakes in suburban Atlanta, where it’s not uncommon to see them rolling through neighborhoods or to the grocery store.

That revs the electric engine of David “Kliggy” Kligfeld, owner of nearby Kliggy’s Karts in Kennesaw, who has seen demand surge in recent years.

“A big market for residential neighborhoods,” he confirmed.

But as Peachtree City can attest, driving around the neighborhood is different from sauntering up to the square, and that’s where the logistics and regulations come into play.

“They would have to do a whole lot of infrastructure to make roads specifically designed to keep the cars away from the carts,” Kligfeld said. “Because there are a lot of people who are menaces with their vehicles.”

The Marietta Police Department said as much in a recent presentation to the city council, where it addressed just how much would have to change or be regulated for the carts to become viable.

Carts have to operate on roads with speed limits below 25 mph and can’t get on state routes or highways.

Safety and underage drivers are also a major concern.

“I think they’re very dangerous,” Frank said of golf carts. “I know several people who have had very serious accidents.”

And then there’s the parking challenge in an already crowded city.

“Parking is already kind of tricky around here, so that would be something to look into,” said Erica.

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