Council tables Veterans Parkway parking redesign for public comment after mixed reactions

Councilors and members of the public debated a staff proposal to reconfigure Veterans Parkway downtown — including converting east-side angled parking to parallel, adding ADA sidewalk and a Locust crosswalk, changing a Commercial Street block to one-way with angled parking additions, and installing a four-way stop at Cedar and Hunters — and decided to solicit more public feedback before acting.

The plan’s presenter described gains in travel width from converting angled to parallel parking and showed concepts to reorient parking and add crosswalks. Council members and attendees raised concerns about lost curbside parking near the post office, whether elderly residents could parallel park, and the location of handicap spaces. After discussion, a councilor moved to put the plan on the next meeting agenda for public comment and the motion carried; staff will publish the draft map and gather comment before the council considers final action.