Residents ask Mariemont council for Chestnut Street resident parking permits as Waldorf traffic fills spaces

At the village council meeting a Chestnut Street landlord and multiple residents described persistent daytime parking congestion near the Waldorf School and asked the council to consider a resident-only parking permit.

Josh Hamilton told the council he owns two buildings on Chestnut Street and asked for a parking permit system (hang-tag or sticker) to reserve spaces for residents between Plainville and Oak; he said Waldorf employees and parents routinely use curb spaces during 9 a.m.–5 p.m. "Because Waldorf gobbles up all the spaces," Hamilton said, residents are left without convenient parking for tenants and contractors.

Council members and staff asked practical questions about overnight versus daytime hours, availability of back-alley parking, and whether private parking pads could help. Several council members suggested the rules-and-law committee contact Waldorf School representatives for input, and Mayor Bill Brown said the item will be sent to the rules committee for study.

Why it matters: On-street parking policy affects residents’ daily life, safety and access for service vehicles. A resident-permit program would change how public curb space is allocated and would require rules, signage and enforcement.

What’s next: The council referred the request to the rules-and-law committee for study and public input; committee will consider signage, permit structure and possible municipal parking-lot restrictions.