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Less than a week away from its implementation, a plan for additional hours of paid parking that was adopted years ago has sparked an emotional argument over what some see as the fate of Rockville Town Square.

While the discussion in City Hall over extending parking fees in three city-owned garages in Town Center heats up, customers and business owners are increasingly worried about the negative impact it could have on pedestrian traffic.

Virtually every business has voiced opposition to the city's plan to charge $1 per hour for parking from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday in the garages. The change is in the city budget to generate between $300,000 and $400,000 in the remainder of fiscal 2010.

"I understand the city needs to pay for the garages, but it's not a good thing," said Alan Gozhansky, owner of Town Square Jewelers on Gibbs Street.

Others fear that even a slight decrease in business could put them out of business.

"Thirty percent of my week is done on Saturday," Toy Kingdom owner Carlos Aulestia said. "If we drop even 20 percent of that, it would have a huge effect on this business."

He said Rockville Town Square has not yet become a destination, like Bethesda, where visitors are more willing to pay for parking. Because of that, it is critical to make the visit as positive as possible, he said.

"Once people don't like a place, they never go back," he said. "All it takes is one time."

Customers of Town Square also fear that negative impacts from parking-fee extensions could be a problem for businesses, although most say they themselves won't stay away.

"I don't think it will stop us," said Donna Rausch of Twinbrook. "You have to pay for parking in Bethesda and D.C. anyway. This place just has too much to offer not to take advantage of it."

She said she takes the bus to Town Center when she comes by herself, but drives with her husband two to three times a month when they come to eat at the restaurants.

Marilyn Gammarino of Gaithersburg said she has only been to Town Square three or four times since it has been built, but thinks the parking fee extension will have a negative impact.

"I notice a lot of turnover in the businesses, so I guess places are having problems," she said. "But it won't affect me because I come here so few times."

Sara Watkins of Bethesda had just finished eating at Gordon Biersch, a lively bar and restaurant in Town Center.

"I don't come here very often so it won't affect me," she said. "I could [affect businesses], but [Town Square] is close to Metro, so people could use Metro if they don't want to pay."

Kelli Neal of King Farm was shopping at Toy Kingdom with her two small children.

"For me it won't affect how I shop, but I think it's a cost you don't want to incur," she said. "Plus taking the time to pay is a hassle. When you shop you want it to be as convenient as possible."

Then there are those who feel like paying for parking is something everyone should expect in certain areas.

"I can see why [business owners] would be worried, but I don't think it will make a difference," Kate Fensterstock of Rockville said. "It's part of living in an urban area. It wouldn't stop me from going [to Town Square]. I'd rather pay for parking."

The issue has become a political one with the approaching mayor and City Council elections.

Mark Pierzchala, a candidate for City Council, issued a statement Monday throwing his full support behind the businesses and urging a nine-month delay in extending the parking fees.

Trapper Martin, a candidate for council and manager of Noodles and Co., a restaurant in Town Square, sent a letter to the mayor and City Council signed by most Town Square businesses proposing alternatives to the pay parking extension.

Councilwoman Phyllis R. Marcuccio, who is challenging Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann, made a motion at a City Council meeting two weeks ago to discuss extending the implementation date. It failed for lack of a second.

A similar motion suggested by Hoffmann at the Sept. 21 City Council meeting, which would have pushed the implementation date back one week to Oct. 12, to allow a reprieve during a planned Restaurant Week program, also failed for lack of a second.

Marcuccio then sent a letter to Hoffmann requesting an emergency council meeting to discuss the issue, but it is unclear if such a meeting is allowed and no date has been set.

Hoffmann said that extended pay parking hours have been part of the plan for downtown Rockville since Town Square was conceived and developed.

The extension was originally slated to go into effect in November 2008, but was delayed by the council to give the business owners a chance to establish their clientele.