Cary to advance School Street one‑side parking restriction; staff to study wider overnight parking policy

Police Chief Finland told the Committee of the Whole on July 15 that School Street — a narrow roadway adjacent to a recently completed apartment complex — should be restricted to parking on one side (the west side) from West Main Street to Ada Street to protect sight lines and emergency access. Finland said the proposal would add School Street’s east‑side restriction as the 65th parking prohibition the village maintains.

Why it matters: the chief and trustees said narrow streets with long‑term parked vehicles impede emergency vehicles, trash and school buses. The committee agreed to move the School Street item to the next village board agenda for formal action rather than delay it.

Beyond that single restriction, staff presented a wider question about the village’s seasonal overnight parking ban (1 a.m.–6 a.m. in December–March) and whether Cary should consider a year‑round overnight prohibition. Chief Finland and staff noted exemptions already in place for downtown commercial streets and for uses such as refuse collection and school buses. They also said an expanded overnight rule would make enforcement simpler (it is easier to identify vehicles parked more than 24 hours) and would limit street storage of inoperable or leaking vehicles.

Trustees asked for a broader inventory and study before adopting a sweeping policy. Trustee Dudek urged a comprehensive review of all narrow streets rather than making piecemeal changes: “I would like to set aside the recommendations made now, do a full study, do everything at one time.” Trustee McAlpine and Trustee Walrath also supported doing a more systematic review of side streets with narrow widths and safety concerns.

A resident, Martha Ritter of 239 North School Street, asked whether parking on the paved driveway apron between sidewalk and curb was allowed; staff confirmed parking in that location is permitted so long as the sidewalk is not blocked. Staff also noted that the village’s ordinance requires vehicles to be parked on a paved surface and not in lawns.

Next steps: the committee directed staff to place the School Street one‑side restriction on the next board meeting agenda and to prepare a comprehensive inventory and draft ordinance addressing narrow streets and overnight parking for future committee consideration. No ordinance was adopted at the July 15 meeting.

Ending: committee members said they favored addressing School Street promptly and requested a broader, coordinated approach to street‑width restrictions and overnight parking rules rather than ad hoc changes.