Traffic commission orders removal of parking on Frazee Avenue block after safety concerns

The Bowling Green Traffic Commission voted 7-1 on Wednesday, March 26, to remove all parking on the south side of the second block of Frazee Avenue between North Prospect and North Summit, after staff and emergency responders said parked cars create tight clearance for trucks and emergency vehicles.

Staff told commissioners the street is about 16 feet wide and that an average parked vehicle is roughly 6 feet wide, leaving about 10–12 feet of travel width when cars are present. Chief Mormon of the fire division said crews have at times had to move off the roadway to avoid parked cars, which risks damage to lawns and tree branches.

The issue began as a petition from resident Jay Sockman, 219 Frazee, who urged removal of parking on the block for safety and to prevent damage to a tree in his front yard. Sockman said most houses on the block have driveways and said a rental property on the corner often draws multiple cars on weekend nights. "If there's a car parked there, the fire trucks, I think it's gonna be tight," he said. "When my neighbors park there, the UPS trucks or whatever, they whack that tree pretty good." Joseph Haim, 216 Frazee, said he relies on on-street parking because his property has only a single driveway and three vehicles in the household.

In a staff report, the commission heard feedback from police, fire and public works divisions. Police reported no formal objection to either option; the fire division recommended no parking on the block while acknowledging neighborhood impacts. Public works said refuse and recycling pickup is generally possible but has required maneuvering at times. Staff also relayed legal-department guidance that temporary placement of a vehicle on grass is not necessarily a code violation unless it causes ruts or is used continually as a parking area.

Commissioners discussed alternatives, including stricter enforcement of distance-from-intersection rules and posting signs to prohibit parking within the measured distance from corners. The question of the legal distance from an intersection was discussed: one participant recalled a 15-foot rule, while others referenced a 30-foot limit. Commissioners agreed a phased approach could be considered, but ultimately voted on the petitioner’s request.

The motion to remove all parking on the south side of the second block of Frazee between Prospect and Summit passed on a roll call vote: 7 in favor, 1 opposed. The commission directed public works to install signage; staff said signs and implementation would likely appear about a week after the request is routed. Commissioners also discussed monitoring enforcement and returning to consider additional options if the change does not alleviate the safety concerns.

The decision follows resident testimony describing near-blocking of the street during busy periods and at least one reported minor collision when a driveway was blocked. Commissioners noted the potential trade-off for residents who rely on curb parking and discussed that permit-only residential parking is not used on Bowling Green residential streets.

The commission also received a separate enforcement request about a posted no-parking area at Pike and Enterprise and noted the police department would be asked to monitor that location. The meeting ended with recognition of Police Chief Tony Hetrick’s impending retirement and adjournment.