Fishers board approves temporary residential parking permits after neighborhood complaints; Morgan Drive added

The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety on July 29 approved a residential parking-permit schedule aimed at addressing repeated overflow parking near two commercial sites, with an amendment to add Morgan Drive to the list of covered streets. The board said the restrictions are time-limited, will be monitored, and can be removed if they create hardship.

Police described long-standing problems of nonresident parking that they said overwhelm nearby neighborhoods, bring litter and public urination, and create safety concerns. Chief Ed Gebhardt, Fishers Police Department, told the board the permitted zones are intended to push patrons to designated off-street lots and free up officers for other duties. “We have for some time been engaged in trying to correct the parking in both locations,” Gebhardt said, describing repeated incidents near the two sites over “probably near two years.”

The most detailed enforcement plan presented to the board would limit on-street parking only during the specified hours for the affected streets; residents would be issued up to 10 permit tags after proving residency by ID. Chief Gebhardt said violations would carry a $150 fine payable through Fishers municipal court. He described Ramadan and weekly service schedules as drivers of demand in one neighborhood and proposed specific restricted hours: Fridays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the neighborhood near the mosque and Thursday–Monday, 6 p.m. to midnight for the area near the other establishment. The chief also noted an expected Ramadan window in 2026 of Feb. 17 to March 19, with proposed 8 p.m.–2 a.m. restrictions during that month.

Two residents spoke during public comment. Michael Cole, who said he lives on Turkel Place, opposed requiring residents to obtain permits to park in front of their own homes and said he had not recently seen overflow parking on his block. Tom Kostakis, who said he lives near King Judd on Morgan Drive, asked that Morgan Drive be included in the permit area; board members and staff confirmed Morgan Drive was highlighted on the map and agreed to add it.

Board members emphasized the restrictions are intended to be iterative. One member summarized the board’s approach: the restrictions will be implemented, monitored for about 30 days, and adjusted if the changes push parking farther into adjacent blocks or unduly burden residents. The board approved an amendment to add Morgan Drive, then approved the full resolution as amended. The motion to amend was seconded, and both votes were recorded as unanimous “aye” votes from the board members present.

Officials said the permitting process will be kept simple: residents will call or visit to verify residency, receive their tags, and enforcement will attempt to prevent nonresidents from using resident tags. Police said they have previously met with representatives of the two businesses and expect those businesses to promote use of off-street parking. Staff also said they will revisit the ordinance and enforcement after the initial evaluation period and remove streets from the schedule if the restrictions prove unnecessary for particular blocks.

The board closed public comment and returned to other agenda items.