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Parker County tables York Avenue sign-and-lease plan after merchants and Downtown Inc. ask for city coordination
Summary
After a two‑hour public hearing with downtown merchants and Downtown Weatherford Inc., the Parker County Commissioners Court voted 5–0 to table a proposed sign-and-lease plan for the 2nd Saturday market on York Avenue and meet with the City of Weatherford and business stakeholders before taking action.
The Parker County Commissioners Court on May 2 opened a public hearing on a proposed sign‑and‑lease for a 2nd Saturday market on a county‑owned parking parcel near York Avenue and closed the hearing after hearing more than half a dozen downtown business owners and the executive director of Downtown Weatherford Inc.
“when you own a business downtown, our paychecks are dependent on people coming through the door,” said Kelly Woods, owner of Recapture Charm at 207 York Avenue, urging commissioners to consider any loss of parking in light of fragile downtown retail earnings. Several other merchants, including Cassidy Longcrier of Sustainable Soul and Garrett Steele of Chiefs Trading Post, spoke in favor of creating family‑friendly gathering space that could encourage longer visits to the Square.
Downtown Weatherford Inc.’s executive director, Lindsay Montgomery, said the organization had collected about 15 written statements supporting the project and one expressing concern, and that the group would be willing to help fund and coordinate the effort. Montgomery said redesign and striping of the lot could increase effective parking capacity and that the proposed installation would reduce existing unstriped bump‑stop spaces by a net of six spots once the lot is striped.
County leadership said the parcel is county property but emphasized the need to coordinate closely with the City of Weatherford because the city has invested in the York Avenue district and its plans must align. Judge (presiding) opened the hearing at 9:05 a.m. and, after questions and a heated exchange with a merchant who accused the court of providing inaccurate information about specific spaces, said the court would schedule a meeting with Weatherford, Downtown Inc., and county staff and bring a recommendation back to the next agenda.
Commissioner Walden moved to table the item so the county could meet with the city and stakeholders; Commissioner Holt seconded the motion. The motion carried 5–0.
The court did not make a substantive decision on use of the lot; commissioners said the next step would be a joint meeting to review designs, timelines, cost estimates and potential parking mitigation options before the court resumes consideration.
