Board agrees to pursue limited on‑street parking on Deering Drive; engineering mapping to follow

The Harris Township Board voted Sept. 8 to ask staff to prepare a zoning amendment to allow limited on‑street parking on the east side of Deering Drive and to advertise a public hearing. The motion followed resident accounts of constrained access for townhouses and an engineer’s assessment that the Deering/Homestead intersection "does not meet warrants for an all way stop." (statement of Rob Watts, traffic engineering review).

Several residents and homeowners testified about limited driveway space and the daily inconvenience of guests potentially receiving parking citations. Leslie Asbury described not having a driveway and said allowing some parking in front of her townhouse would ease access for visitors. A resident‑led survey, cited by a neighbor who chaired the analysis, reported a majority in favor of permitting parking in the corridor; the traffic engineer estimated roughly four to six parking spaces might be feasible depending on driveway locations and vehicle spacing.

Board members debated whether to direct staff to draft an amendment before seeking detailed mapping and whether the amendment would be worth the staff effort if only a handful of spaces result. Ultimately the board asked staff to prepare an amendment to chapter 11‑1.31, to include a map of proposed signage and zone limits, and to advertise a public hearing; the motion passed by voice vote.

Staff said signage would be used to restrict parking near intersections to preserve sight distance and that the mapping would show recommended sign locations and an estimated number of allowable parking spots. The amendment will return for public comment and a future board decision.