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City staff explains downtown hatch markings, loading zones and EV stall rules after reconstruction
Summary
City staff walked the Bid Board through new downtown parking markings: hatched areas to preserve access, grouped ADA stalls, loading zones with time limits, and electric vehicle stalls reserved for active charging.
City staff explained to the West Bend Bid Board on March 4 how the downtown reconstruction determined hatch-marked areas, loading zones, ADA stall groupings and electric vehicle (EV) stall rules.
Max (staff) presented a PDF map showing hatched areas across downtown and explained the reasons for each marking. “The ones with the letter A … we had to install because there's an existing driveway or an alley coming to those areas, and we had to provide that access,” Max said. He said blue-hatched areas labeled B indicate small leftover spaces too small for an additional full parking stall and that pink hatched areas labeled C were to comply with a state statute: “State statute 3 46.53 that prohibits parking within 50 feet 15 feet, of the near edge of a crosswalk,” he said. Green hatch areas labeled D accompany ADA-accessible stalls.
Max said some hatch areas serve multiple functions — for example, using the crosswalk-clearance painted area to also serve an adjacent ADA stall — to conserve painted area and maximize parking efficiency. He also said where two ADA stalls are close together the design groups them so they “share that one area” and reduce total painted hatch area.
On loading zones, Max said a transportation group recommended designating specific stalls as loading (for example, the area in front of the theater and a block north of Walnut Street). Those stalls are restricted to loading during designated hours but revert to general parking outside posted loading hours so they remain usable for evening shoppers and restaurant patrons.
Regarding EV stalls, Max said the city’s rule for the marked EV spots is that vehicles must be actively charging to use the spot. “The rules for those electric vehicle spots is that vehicles that are not actively charging are not permitted to park in those spots,” he said, and staff acknowledged some employees were worried about daytime charging and potential tickets; staff said active charging would be legal.
Board members asked whether overall parking counts met earlier estimates. Max said he did not do a final count; one board member said construction outcomes were “pretty close to our target of between 35 and 40” parking stalls, with an estimate around 36.
Board direction: Max agreed to email the board the PDF map and a document with the questions and his answers; the PDF links include Google Street View anchors so board members can jump to specific locations.
The discussion will return to the Traffic Safety Commission as needed for any additional operational adjustments.
