Downtown Hebron business owners press council on parking limits and crosswalks

Several downtown business owners told Hebron council committees that the village's two-hour parking restrictions have had benefits but also create challenges for evening businesses and residents living above storefronts.

Angela Centofanti, who owns an art gallery downtown, said the two-hour limit "has been a huge help with freeing up space for her clients," and that marking parking spots and clearer signage—particularly to the gravel lot behind the convenience store on N. High Street—would help customers. Centofanti also said a crosswalk remains needed to improve pedestrian access.

Photographer Teres Smith said limited parking affects both her studio and the rental units she manages, noting that some renters cannot carry groceries from distant lots up stairs. Prospective pizza-shop owner Brady Williams said a takeout business is difficult to run without reliable curbside spaces; he said he is willing to park farther away but needs short-term options for deliveries and customers.

Mayor Valerie Mockus said staff had reached out to downtown businesses to gather concerns and proposed possible options including limiting weekend enforcement to mornings only, marking spaces on the west side of the street to make spots easier to find, and adding short-term "grab-and-go" parking. Councilmember Randy Wolf said he would like to see crosswalks established along Main Street.

No formal parking regulation change was adopted during the meeting. Staff and council discussed potential approaches that will need further review and likely appear on a future agenda for formal consideration.