Cole County approves no-parking and new stop signs after Traffic & Safety Board recommendation

Cole County commissioners on June 9 accepted Traffic & Safety Advisory Board recommendations to create a no-parking zone on Ardan (Harden) Drive and to install stop signs at three intersections in the Charm Ridge subdivision.

Staff presented photographs and engineering guidance, citing county traffic code restrictions (no parking within 30 feet of an intersection and trailer/extended-parking limits) and the traffic manual’s warrant Condition C for placing stop signs on lower functional-class roads that intersect higher functional-class roads.

The Ardan Drive recommendation established a 102-foot no-parking zone in a tight curve where sight distance is limited by parked vehicles and an observed trailer; staff noted previous nearby accidents at Buggy Lane but none at the precise location. Commissioners moved to accept the board’s recommendation and sign the court order.

Staff also described three T-intersections in Charm Ridge where increasing on-street parking and subdivision development reduced visibility. Based on observed near-misses reported by a resident and manual warrant guidance, staff recommended installing stop signs at Charm Oak Drive at Charm Miller Drive, Charm Tree Court at Charm Oak Drive, and Charm Oak Drive at Charm Ridge Drive. The commission approved the installations and signed the associated court order.

Commissioner Otto, whose district includes the Ardan Drive location, said he reviewed the materials and concurred with staff: “I concur with Eric's suggestion.” County staff and the Road & Bridge department will post signage and record the court orders per county procedure.

Next steps include filing the court orders and scheduling sign installation; Road & Bridge staff set target implementation dates and will report completion to the commission.