Council to consider parking provision

Chardon city leaders may end a longtime overnight parking ban to provide for apartment dwellers on the square.

Currently, the city prohibits parking on any street or municipal parking lot between midnight and 6 a.m., except in the case of emergencies.

“It’s been that way as long as I can remember,” Law Director James M. Gillette said, adding that it may have been enacted for snow-plowing purposes.

City Council on Jan. 11 will consider legislation amending the law.

“The Council of the City of Chardon recognizes that private overnight parking is not available for residents who live on Main

Street; and ... desires to provide limited overnight parking for the Main Street residents,” the amendment reads.

If approved, parking will be permitted in the following areas:

• The north and south sides of Short Court Street, bounded on the west by Main Street and on the east by East Park Street

• Six spaces immediately north of Short Court Street on the west side of East Park Street

• The 108 South St. parking lot

The police department would be directed to erect signs designating where overnight parking is available.

“While residents will not have designated parking, there will be more than enough availability of overnight parking for (them) between midnight and 6 a.m.,” Mayor Nancy McArthur said.

As of now, there are nine existing residential apartments and three under construction in buildings around the square. That is according to an inventory of second-floor spaces conducted by Planning & Zoning Administrator Steve Yaney and Chardon Tomorrow Executive Director Mary Glauser.

The inventory was done with an eye toward economic development initiatives. The parking restrictions were identified as a problem by residents, Glauser said.

“We are also looking at other existing properties on the square for potential development into residential (and) higher-density housing as well as working on zoning and historical registry designations,” she said.

In October, Councilman Andrew K. Blackley suggested that the Legislative Committee review parking.

“Now that we’re seeing people build or develop apartments on the second floor on Main Street (businesses), which I fully support — I think it’s a great idea — I think we need to move forward with doing something about getting them a parking license,” he said.

City Manager Randy Sharpe said discussions were underway.