Alderman: Gainesboro Needs Parking Strategy

Gainesboro Alderman Beth Young said the town needs to develop a long-term strategy to deal with on-street parking and traffic hazards caused on some of the town’s streets.

Young told Aldermen Thursday she had pulled copies of the charter and found regulations meant to limit parking near stop signs, on sidewalks, near fire hydrants, as well as the number of cars one homeowner can park on the street. Young said some residents are simply ignoring the rules.

“Just this week alone, I have been almost hit head on twice because of people trying to dodge cars that are parked on the street,” Young said. “I have been trying to turn a corner where I’m dodging cars that are parked on a street and almost get hit head on. I have to back up and then people are we can’t see each other. So I think that as a group, we need to start looking at how streets are focused and and people that are parking on them.”

Young said the problem made worse as more visitors come to Gainesboro and do not understand that some of the streets are one-way. She said she further worried about law enforcement and emergency personnel trying to help those in need. Gainesboro Police told Aldermen they are called over multiple times per week because moving trucks, delivery trucks or other vehicles cannot get through.

Young said those residents who have a driveway, need to use it.

“Ticket. Ticket. Ticket. Ticket. Ticket. Ticket. Ticket,” Young said. “I mean, that’s the only thing that is in our Gainesboro code at this point.”

But Young added, if that’s what town leaders want done, they must support police and make it clear that this is the town’s policy.

Aldermen did not take action on the issue, but Young asked that it be brought up at a future meeting where the City Attorney, Police and others could weigh-in more on the alternatives.