One possible solution to downtown parking woes is now on the books. At its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 9, the Fayette Board of Aldermen gave unanimous passage to an amendment to parking ordinances to sections of Main Street downtown, as well as North Linn Street.

Parking is no longer allowed between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on North Main Street between Davis and Elm streets, and South Main Street between Walnut and Morrison streets. 

Downtown parking problems have persisted for several months. Cars are often parked in front of businesses along North Main Street for days at a time. And while those areas already prohibit parking for more than three hours at a time, the law is largely unenforceable. Police Chief David Ford explained to the city council on September 14, 2021, that a 2019 Supreme Court Decision found that the chalking of tires is a fourth-amendment violation and that doing so could set up the city for a lawsuit. He suggested that the city make areas of Main Street no parking overnight.

It is perceived that the majority of the cars taking up spaces along North Main Street belong to students from Central Methodist University. Recently, two cars parked on the east side of North Main Street remained unmoved for about a week, blocking access for customer parking.

One concerned citizen voiced her concern to the city council on Tuesday. Peggy Woods Vaughn said that she has been unable to park near the Peacock Beauty Shop on North Main Street. As an elderly person, she finds it difficult to park elsewhere and walk to the business.

“You can’t park on North Main. Why? Well, we have Central students and faculty members,” she said. “I feel with Central Methodist there is plenty of parking for the students.”

While a considerable amount of gripe is directed at CMU students who park along North Main Street near the south entrance to the campus, those students are not necessarily breaking the law, unless cars are parked for more than three hours at a time. The students have the same right to park in any open space as any other driver. However, students are not the only people taking up parking spaces throughout the day. Employees and downtown business owners often park along the street, even when dedicated parking is provided elsewhere.

However, when it comes to cars being parked for days at a time, there now appears to be a solution. Now that overnight parking is no longer allowed along those sections of Main Street, police may now issue tickets and even tow cars from the street.

Originally, the city council voted to abandon the three-hour parking ordinance downtown. But at last week’s meeting, the council voted to keep the three-hour parking ordinance on the books, while changing the ordinance to disallow overnight parking. While the law is currently in effect, the new law will not be enforced until signs are placed on the affected streets. The college will also be notified of the change, so officials there may inform students and faculty.

Chief Ford said there are other ways to enforce three-hour parking other than chalking tires. For instance, if a citizen signs a statement that says he observed a car parked for more than three hours, police can write a ticket. 

In addition to parking problems downtown, the city will no longer allow parking on either side of North Linn Street between Elm and Lucky streets at any time. One resident there, George Befort, spoke before the city council on October 12 and asked the city for help. Northwest Ward Alderman, Jeremy Dawson, who also lives on Linn Street, motioned to change the city ordinance to allow for no parking there.

As with parking downtown, the majority of cars parked along North Linn street appear to be college students and faculty, as the street is only a block away from campus.

Residents along the narrow, brick street often have trouble entering and exiting driveways because of cars parked along the street.

As with changes downtown, police will not enforce the changed parking ordinance until signs are placed along the street.