Council holds first reading of no-parking ordinance for 515 Main Street after public hearing

The Stevensville Town Council on Jan. 9 held a public hearing and conducted a first reading of Ordinance No. 172, which would establish a no-parking zone at and around 515 Main Street (the Avea coffee location) citing public safety concerns at a roadway curve.

The measure aims to prohibit curbside parking on the stretch of Main Street adjacent to the coffee shop because vehicles parked there reduce sight lines around a curve and have been associated with recent crashes, the council said at the hearing. The ordinance is a first reading; council members discussed the precise endpoints for the no-parking zone and possible mitigation such as adding parking behind the business.

Why it matters: The proposed no-parking zone affects a downtown business, pedestrian access and on-street parking supply. Council members and the town’s park board have tried to balance public safety with preserving a valuable small business location, and the council asked staff to pursue off-street parking options while meeting state right-of-way requirements.

Council discussion and public comment focused on three issues: line-of-sight and crash risk; short-term, nearby parking options for customers; and the legal ownership of Lane Park at the corner. Several council members described the corner as hazardous for motorists and pedestrians and cited guidance from the Montana Department of Highways that the ordinance should specify clear endpoints.

During the hearing, a longtime Stevensville resident, Peter Letthenstrom, asked whether patrons could use parking across the street or in the pizza restaurant’s lot and raised concerns about dogs being walked in Lane Park. Eric Wilson, who identified himself as co-owner of the coffee shop located at 515 Main, said the business relies on curbside spaces and asked for clarification about what the ordinance would change.

Councilors reported outreach to the coffee-shop landlord (identified in the meeting as Lana, who lives abroad) and to the property manager, Mandy Springer. The town’s park board recommended opening a small number of parking spaces behind the building near trees; staff also said they had contacted the Montana Department of Highways about the ordinance language.

The council discussed options that could preserve two or three parking spaces while clearing the curve. Council members noted the state’s roadway survey created unequal widths and that part of the triangular strip by the curve is owned by the State of Montana while another portion is a dedicated roadway recorded on the subdivision plat; the council said it has not found a written deed transferring the triangle to the town. Staff provided copies of documents showing the triangle’s mixed ownership.

A motion to approve Ordinance No. 172 for its first reading was made on the floor; the reading will return for a required second reading and formal adoption if the council advances it. Staff said they would continue outreach to the property owner and the museum next door to explore shared parking as a mitigation option.

The council also noted that the ordinance could affect other nearby businesses and that additional crosswalk and traffic-control improvements are under informal consideration.

The item remained subject to further refinement and a second reading before any final ban would take effect.

Ending: The ordinance will return for a second reading and final vote at a later meeting after the council and staff finalize exact curb limits, parking mitigation plans and required state coordination.