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Rising Sun board discusses expanding handicap parking rules for commercial areas
Summary
Town Administrator Calvin said the current handicap-parking ordinance applies only to residential properties and recommended the board develop criteria for commercial or Main Street spaces to prevent unintended parking shortages; alternatives include requiring businesses to provide on-site spaces or time-limited curb parking.
Town Administrator Calvin told commissioners the town’s existing handicap-parking ordinance is limited to residential properties and requires applicants to provide a doctor's note; commercial properties cannot currently petition for a curbside handicap space. He said a residential license has a nominal annual fee ("$25"), and the ordinance allows the town to enforce that designated spaces are tied to a specific residence.
Calvin warned that opening curbside handicap spaces to businesses without clear criteria could create unintended consequences—"If every business ask for it, you wouldn't have any parking in front of any business." He recommended the board adopt objective criteria for granting curbside handicap spaces in business districts and suggested alternative approaches: require businesses that can provide off-street parking to do so, create time-limited curb parking in front of businesses, or identify specific locations on Main Street where the town will provide curbside handicap spaces.
Commissioners and the town attorney discussed implementation details: the need for curb cuts, signage, and to avoid physical obstructions that would make a space unusable. Calvin asked for guidance from the board before staff and the town attorney draft specific ordinance language.
