Cary committee approves sending School Street parking restriction to board; asks study of narrow‑street overnight parking

Chief Finlan presented to the Committee of the Whole on July 15 seeking direction on two parking topics: a targeted restriction on School Street and a broader review of overnight parking rules.

Chief Finlan asked trustees to consider restricting parking on the east side of School Street from West Main Street to Ada Street, noting the stretch is narrow and adjoins a newly completed apartment complex. “We have restrictions on School Street, which is north of West Main Street, on the West Side from West Main to Norman, and this would be the 65th [parking prohibition], and that would be School Street Eastside from West Main Street to Ada Street,” he said during the presentation.

The committee signaled agreement to advance the specific School Street restriction to the next board meeting’s consent agenda so formal action can occur without delay. Trustees said they preferred not to delay that narrowly tailored change while staff prepares a broader policy review.

On the broader issue of overnight parking, staff reminded the committee that the village currently prohibits overnight parking (1 a.m. to 6 a.m.) during December through March, with carved‑out exemptions downtown and for qualifying multi‑family buildings via permits. Chief Finlan noted enforcement and public‑safety rationales for restrictions on very narrow roadways and flagged recurring issues such as long‑term street storage of vehicles and oversized vehicles (for example, school buses) that can block sightlines and impede emergency response.

Trustees asked staff to conduct a comprehensive inventory of narrow side streets and to return with a consolidated recommendation rather than advancing a series of piecemeal restrictions. Trustee Dudek urged a full study, noting the presentation revisits a 2023 recommendation and that the board should “do the whole thing at one time.” Trustee Cifani recommended evaluating camera‑based license‑plate monitoring as a tool to identify long‑term parkers, and some trustees requested that staff include community engagement and notice in outreach plans.

Staff and trustees agreed on two next steps: (1) bring the School Street east‑side prohibition as a consent item to the next board meeting because it has already been evaluated and (2) prepare a village‑wide inventory and a proposed ordinance or draft policy to address narrow‑street overnight parking and long‑term street storage, including recommended exemptions and enforcement approaches. No ordinance changes were adopted at the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Ending: Trustees closed the agenda with direction to staff to prepare the School Street restriction for board action and to return with a consolidated, village‑wide proposal on narrow‑street overnight parking and enforcement options.