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Traffic commission to ask residents for petition on Elm Place; recommends no‑parking zone near McDonald’s curve
Summary
The commission advised Elm Place residents to complete a neighbor petition for any resident‑only parking request and recommended that the city pursue a no‑parking restriction and new signage on Southover near the McDonald’s/Big Bend curve to improve safety.
The Traffic Advisory Commission took up two separate parking issues on May 12: a resident request for restricted parking on Elm Place and a safety complaint about parking on Southover near the McDonald’s at Big Bend.
On Elm Place commissioners said the first step for residents is to gather neighbor support. A commission member advised the resident to complete the required petition and confirm neighbors back the restriction: “I would suggest she complete a a a petition and talk with the neighbors,” a commissioner said. Commissioners explained the city’s established process: if the street’s width or safety conditions justify a parking restriction, the commission can recommend restrictions (for example, parking allowed on one side only) but the formal process requires neighbor input and staff review.
Commissioners discussed street width thresholds and noted that streets narrower than typical widths may support a one‑side parking restriction so emergency and service vehicles can pass. One measurement discussed at the meeting placed the roadway width at approximately 21 feet; staff noted that width would commonly support restricting parking to one side.
Separately, the commission reviewed a safety complaint about parked vehicles obstructing sight lines and traffic flow on Southover near the McDonald’s/Big Bend curve. Staff said existing limited‑hour restrictions (for farmer’s‑market logistics) are posted in parts of the corridor but that the immediate curve lacked clear signage. The commission recommended that the city designate a no‑parking zone on the curve and install signage and markings so the restriction would be enforceable and visible. In discussion staff referenced the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) when explaining lane allocation and parking limitations.
The commission will forward the McDonald’s/Southover no‑parking recommendation to the city manager for drafting as an ordinance or inclusion in the city’s parking schedule; staff said signage is required for enforcement. For Elm Place the commission advised the resident to coordinate a neighbor petition and return a formal request so staff can evaluate street width and make a recommendation.
