CENTERBURG — Members of the Centerburg United Methodist Church say that proposed parking changes, in their current form, will negatively impact the church. Their concern was the proposed elimination of parking on South Hartford Avenue.
Long-term on-street parking by tenants, drivers weaving around parked cars, and residents’ concerns prompted the village’s safety committee to recommend eliminating parking on the west side of South Hartford south of Church Street.
Jim Norris, chairman of the church’s administrative board, told council that the village has struggled with parking and safety issues in the past.
“It’s a serious problem, we don’t question that, but if you take away the parking, you are taking away our ability to have services,” he said.
Norris said the parking lot behind the church at 65 S. Hartford Ave. is not big enough to accommodate all vehicles for church services, weddings, and funerals. Many church members are unable to walk any distance to attend church.
Additionally, he noted that while local residents might know about parking behind the library or the Park National Bank lot, out-of-towners attending funerals and weddings do not. He also said the current proposal will affect parking on Church Street, the Christian Church of Centerburg, and the Johnson-Melick-Moreland Funeral Home.
Norris requested that council modify the parking restrictions. Suggestions include:
•Eliminate parking on South Hartford Monday through Friday and allow parking in front of the church, but no longer than three to four hours.
•Begin the no-parking area south of the UMC property and limit parking to three to four hours in front of the church.
Norris suggested that council consider the same limited parking on Church Street, too.
“There are so many versions of what you could do. If you just eliminate parking from Hartford Avenue, they are just going to move down the street. There are problems if parking is totally banned,” he said.
Gary White of White Farms suggested making South Hartford “no parking except Sunday and holidays.” He noted increased traffic in the village and the wider vehicles now being manufactured as issues and said grain semi-trucks have difficulty maneuvering through the village.
White also said that most of the houses on South Hartford have driveways where the residents could park.
He asked council to consider reinstating no parking on the corner of Main and South Hartford so that westbound grain trucks have an easier turn onto South Hartford.
Norris said that “no parking except Sunday and holidays” would solve most of the church’s problems, but noted council has to consider where the vehicles would go. Additionally, funerals take place throughout the week.
“We need an alternative for the rest of the days of the week,” Councilman Tom Stewart agreed.
Councilman Dave Beck said village officials have been trying to slow down traffic on South Hartford.
“If we take [parking] away, it will speed up traffic,” he said.
Stewart reminded council members that the village previously had a road study done that included ways to address traffic and safety issues. Once Village Administrator Teri Wise has reviewed the study, council will take a serious look at its recommendations and suggestions.
Referencing a village ordinance that requires landlords to provide off-street parking for tenants, Mayor Greg Sands said, “There is adequate parking in the back yard. It’s just an unwillingness [on the part of tenants] to do so.”
In addition to eliminating parking on South Hartford south of Church Street, council is proposing four additional parking changes:
•Eliminate the handicap parking spot at the corner of Willis Street and W. Main Street and to further eliminate all parking in said location so the line of sight from Willis Street entering onto W. Main Street is not obscured.
•Establish a handicap parking spot on the east side of South Hartford Street at the intersection of W. Main Street beside the bank building.
•Establish a handicap parking spot on S. Clayton Street near the intersection of W. Main Street by the Library.
•Add language to the stop light located at Preston Street and Main Street to include “no turn on red” during school hours.
The village’s safety committee will review the South Hartford parking item at its January meeting. In its legislative session, council gave a second reading to the ordinance authorizing the parking changes.
Council members also initially approved suspending the required three readings and approving a second payment of $1,000 for membership in MORPC’s (Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission) Trail Town initiative. After discussion, council members tabled the resolution to their February meeting.
Sands and Councilman Rusty Griffith both noted the money is going to Franklin County to educate trail users, not to Knox County. Additionally, Sands said that contrary to his initial impression, not every Knox County entity has agreed to participate. Councilman Beck said the initiative is a good thing, but he wants to talk with MORPC before council proceeds.
Council took the following additional actions:
•Adopted an ordinance that provides medical and prescription drug benefits to part-time employees
•Adopted a resolution renewing membership in the Regional Planning Commission at $422.25
•Gave a first reading to legislation authorizing the village administrator to sell surplus property over $1,000 in value
•Waived the three readings and approved a resolution authorizing the VA to submit an application to ODOT for a TAP (Transportation Alternative Program) grant for a downtown streetscape project
Council members elected Beck as council president. Councilman Greg Myers will remain the representative to RPC with Sands as alternate; Stewart will remain the representative to the Central Ohio Joint Fire Board with Council member Saundra Dove as alternate.
Council also approved committee appointments and the 2023 meeting schedule for council and village boards, committees, and commissions.
Council meetings are the first Monday of every month, but council members changed the meeting time from 5 pm to 6 pm.
