Trustees consider converting west side of Clark Street to angled parking; neighborhood outreach planned

Jason (staff member) presented a survey and field mock-up showing that converting the west side of Clark Street (Main to Union) to angle parking could add approximately five parking stalls. The proposal would require removing parking on the east side of Clark Street and striping stalls and yellow-curbing the east curb with signage; staff noted no other physical improvements would be required for the initial change.

Board members and staff discussed several operational concerns. Jason said the area near Main Street is wider and that on paper the angled layout works; staff performed an on-street test with trucks and judged there is room for two lanes of traffic in most locations but noted a parking area on the east side near a building would have to be removed. Trustees raised questions about impacts to businesses, access for larger trucks (including a local business owner, Alex, who uses large equipment), fire-truck turning radiuses, placement of handicap stalls and ramps, and snowplowing.

Trustees directed staff to first speak with affected business owners and property owners (including Alex) and to check engineering details (turning movements, ADA ramp placement) before bringing a formal ordinance or a committee-of-the-whole/public-hearing recommendation back to the board. If an ordinance change is required staff should route the matter back through Plan Commission and schedule the appropriate public hearing; if not, the board suggested a committee-of-the-whole invitation to neighboring businesses and homeowners for discussion.

Jason will coordinate on-site review with affected property owners, assess ADA ramp placement and potential loss of stalls for ramp cross-hatched areas, and return with a recommended sequence for outreach, any required ordinance amendments, and a proposed timeline for striping and signage if the board decides to proceed.