The Fayette Board of Alderman approved the restriction of parking on Linn Street in Fayette. Parking will no longer be allowed on either side of the narrow street.

Linn Street resident George Befort asked the council to address the situation during its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 12.

Linn Street runs north to south one block west and parallel to Church Street. The brick street is often congested during the week, given its proximity to the Central Methodist University campus. This causes issues for residents there who find it difficult to get in and out of driveways.

“We have people actually park in front of our driveway,” Befort told the alderpersons. He asked the council to restrict parking on the 500 block of the street.

“There’s a couple of times I’ve had to go over the curb to get out of the driveway.”

Northeast Ward Alderman Jermey Dawson, who lives across from Mr. Befort, called the parking situation “horrendous.”

Currently parking is allowed on the west side of the street, but not the east side. But because the street is only 20 feet wide, only about half the street is passable.

I’ve had to take multiple detours on Linn Street to get to my house,” Dawson said. “I’ve had stuff delivered to the house where we’re trying to get the truck down the street. You can’t drive it down the street because the street’s not wide enough. It’s a constant issue.”

Danny Dougherty, the city’s director of public works, explained that crews have a difficult time getting the snow plow and street sweeper up and down the street because of parked cars. He suggested asking the opinions of homeowners on Linn Street. “If they’re all for it, I think it should be no parking whatsoever.”

This is not the first time issues have been raised before the council with regard to parking on Linn Street. In August 2020, a resident asked the council to address problems backing out of her driveway on Linn Street because of students blocking the roadway. The university had recently purchased the Megraw House on the corner of Linn and Lucky streets for overflow housing. Students were parking along Linn Street, making it difficult for residents in the area to access their driveways.

Ultimately, the university said the house, which was formerly a Bed & Breakfast, would be used as a guest house. It was used to house select students during a period of high enrollment. Currently, no students are living in the house. However, students and faculty park along the street, causing congestion. 

Dawson motioned for the city to create an ordinance to make it No Parking on North Linn Street between Elm and Lucky streets. The council approved unanimously. 

The new parking rule will go into effect if and when the council approves the new ordinance, which could happen as soon as the next meeting on October 26.