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Council rejects parking restriction near Central Avenue Church after debate over lost public spaces
Summary
The Holland City Council voted down a proposal to remove roughly three public parking spaces near Central Avenue Church, citing concerns about scarce public parking near Hope College and the need for more study; transportation staff said the restriction aimed to improve sight lines and drop-off safety.
The Holland City Council on April 1 rejected a staff-backed proposal to restrict parking on Central Avenue and 10th Street adjacent to Central Avenue Church, after several members said removing public spaces near Hope College would set a troubling precedent.
Transportation Director Brian White presented slides and told the council the request came from the church because line-of-sight and seasonal snow-melt work had created safety concerns. White said the traffic committee’s review used aerial photos and site observation rather than a formal traffic count and that the change would eliminate roughly three legal parking spots on Central Avenue to preserve pedestrian and driveway sight lines.
"We're really talking about three spaces along Central Avenue, and we really think the benefits there outweigh the other," White said, describing the committee’s recommendation to install signs to make enforcement clear.
Council members pressed staff for alternatives. Several suggested a time-limited or Sunday-only restriction instead of removing parking entirely. Council member Shea said he preferred a targeted Sunday restriction to preserve public access for most days. "I think a no-parking on Sundays would be a great use," Shea said.
Other members worried about precedent and the limited public parking supply in the downtown and college-adjacent area. Council member Klomparans said she "would struggle to set a precedent that private businesses could request public parking be removed" and noted the area's high demand for event and student parking.
Freeman moved to approve the proposed restriction, and Raymond provided support. When the council took a roll-call vote, the motion failed by vote 0–8. The council's recorded votes showed no yes votes and eight no votes; the mayor announced the motion did not carry.
The council did not adopt a substitute at the meeting; members asked staff to consider additional options and, when requested, noted a Sunday-only sign could be considered in future discussions.
The item had been tabled at a previous meeting to allow notification of nearby property owners; staff said they had not received substantive written opposition but acknowledged neighbors and council members raised concerns during verbal Q&A.
The council will return to other parking and traffic committee requests as they come up in future agendas.
