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Onancock council approves Queen Street parking lot as permanent home for farmers market
Summary
The Town Council voted 5-1 to approve locating both the summer and winter Onancock Farmers Markets in the town-owned Queen Street parking lot, authorizing signage and Saturday-morning parking enforcement; councilmembers and nearly two dozen public commenters debated timing and drainage concerns.
The Onancock Town Council on April 28 approved placing both the summer and winter Farmers Markets in the Queen Street parking lot, with a roll-call vote of 5-1. Councilmember Cindy Holdren moved to "approve locating both the summer and winter markets in the Queen Street parking lot and authorize Town Manager Spuck and the police department to provide signage and enforce parking lot restrictions on Saturday mornings," a motion seconded by Councilmember Sarah Nock and carried with Councilmember Maphis Oswald opposed.
Supporters filled the public-comment period: market vendor Angela Faraguna and residents including Jim McGowan told the council the market brings customers to Onancock businesses and that the Queen Street location will help sustain downtown foot traffic. One commenter, Toni Nelson, asked that the council resolve drainage problems in the lot before finalizing the permanent move; Councilmember Joy Marino had earlier urged postponing the decision until planned Queen Street upgrades were finished to avoid jeopardizing an outstanding market grant. Mayor Fletcher Fosque said he had received about 25 emails backing the Queen Street location.
Why it mattered: councilmembers weighed economic benefit and timing. Councilmember Lisa Fiege highlighted the market's importance to downtown vitality; Councilmember Omar Grubb said he preferred the Peninsula Center but joined the majority in the vote. The council authorized the town manager and police to install signage and enforce Saturday restrictions to support market operations, signaling an operational timeline while managers complete parking-lot upgrades.
What’s next: the council action authorizes implementation steps rather than a construction timeline; upgrades already planned for the Queen Street parking lot will continue, and Town Manager Matt Spuck and the police department will oversee signage and enforcement for Saturday market hours.
