Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Merchants Alley topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Merchants, residents and police press Weaverville council for a plan on Merchant’s Alley parking and deliveries
Summary
Merchants and residents told council delivery trucks and diagonal parking in Merchant’s Alley have blocked the alley and delayed services; council and police discussed striping, loading zones, possible one-way conversion, and use of church parking for employee spaces and asked staff to draft a site plan and engage downtown businesses.
Council and downtown stakeholders spent the largest portion of the July 13 workshop on Merchant’s Alley, where delivery vehicles, customer parking and informal diagonal stalls have repeatedly narrowed the right of way and impeded emergency and sanitation access.
Captain Nick Shea of the police department explained enforcement options and said complaints have increased in recent weeks. He described the street as extremely tight and said an 18‑wheeler or trailer often cannot get through when vehicles are parked along the alley.
Business owners and residents described day-to-day impacts. Amy Spooner, owner of Artisan Von Main, said she had not been notified about the parking arrangements and emphasized the need for better communication; she said her storefront operations require a safe place to load and unload fragile goods. Rob Mangum (identified at the meeting as Rob Mangum of Mangum Pottery) and several other merchants supported striping, designated loading zones and collaborative conversations with owners.
Several council members proposed options the staff could study: re-striping to define parallel or diagonal parking, creating time-limited loading zones, making the alley one way to create a consistent flow and reduce conflicts, or restriping and signage to clarify where parking is permitted. Staff noted there are about 60 church-designated spaces historically set aside for employees; some council members suggested re-engaging churches to confirm availability and whether signage had been intentionally withheld in the original arrangement.
Residents who live on nearby streets warned that rerouting could shift traffic and safety problems to narrow residential blocks such as Alabama Avenue. Alan Shepherd, a downtown property owner, and Matthew Knauer, an Alabama Avenue resident, urged the council to consider neighborhood impacts if circulation is changed.
The council did not adopt an ordinance change at the workshop. Instead, members asked staff to prepare a site plan with proposed striping options and a layout for any proposed one-way or loading-zone configuration, then reconvene with merchants for feedback; a follow-up workshop was suggested for the near term.
"Please don't start writing tickets," business owners urged, asking for a period to adjust to any new enforcement, while the council said it would back reasonable enforcement once an ordinance or plan is in place.
