Harpers Ferry denies downtown business permit request, limits Church Street short-term rentals to one guest hang tag

The Harpers Ferry Town Council declined a request for designated employee parking in lower town and adopted changes to short-term-rental parking rules at its May 11 meeting.

Business owner and resident Ken Townson outlined a formal request for permit parking at 175 and 179 High Street, describing long employee commutes and the loss of prior permit-only spaces after a street parking project. Parking committee members explained the committees role in preserving turnover and protecting residential streets, noting the rail-station lot is National Park Service property and not controlled by the town. The parking committee reported a unanimous position not to extend permit parking to downtown businesses; council took no action on the request.

Karen Telson, a property owner who also spoke, described the hardship for employees and called for special consideration: "I have a minimum of five employees ... it's been a difficult situation for us. I pay property taxes and I feel like I deserve special consideration." Councilors acknowledged the hardship but cited equity and limited space as constraints.

On Church Street, council approved an amendment to provide one guest hang tag per B&B or short-term rental located on Church Street with no off-street parking; the motion passed unanimously. Council also amended the parking-committee charter to make the mayor a voting member to create an odd number of voting participants; that change was approved unanimously.

Councilors said enforcement, fairness and turnover for merchants guided their decisions; they recommended applicants continue to pursue parking options with private property owners and the parking committee.