Hampshire residents have voiced concerns about a proposed parking ban on the north side of White Oak Street from Jake Lane to Jefferson Avenue and from Jefferson to Warner Street.
“This item was originally on the agenda in June,” Village President Jeffrey Magnussen said at a recent meeting. “We pulled it because we felt we needed more input from the community. We wanted to hear your thoughts.”
The ban was proposed to improve safety conditions along White Oak Street, which is a residential street. There have been concerns raised about speeding, although Magnussen said the Hampshire police have been out on White Oak multiple times and never caught anyone driving past the current limit of 30 miles per hour.
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A number of residents, however, said they have noticed speeding on the road.
“Cars can go very fast on that street,” said Kevin Moseley, who lives along White Oak. “We have had incidents on the corner.”
Erik Robinson, recently moved to the street, and has concerns about the speeding.
Some have said a curve in the 200 block of White Oak is a problem, and the problem has worsened wince Jake Lane has opened.
One resident said the problem is primarily an issue from April to October, mostly in the afternoons and evenings when families are outside.
Magnussen said the north side of White Oak was chosen for a possible parking ban because is the side of the street that has fire hydrants.
Solutions proposed by residents included putting up speed limit signs and enforcing them; lowering the speed limit to 25 miles per hour, especially near the curve; installing a flashing light that warns drivers of children playing; installing an electronic speed monitor showing drivers their speed to increase awareness; putting in speed bumps or something else that could be removed for snow plows, and installing a stop sign at Panama Avenue.
Some residents were opposed to the proposed parking ban because they felt that while it would make it easier for drivers on one side of the street to see and back out of their driveways, it would become more of a challenge for drivers on the other side. They also felt that the proposed ban might cause problems with garbage pick-up and mail delivery.
Magnussen said the matter will go to a committee meeting before it comes before the board again.
“The amount of children in the subdivision is why the issue came up,” said Trustee Mike Reid. “We will work to come up with a plan.”
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter.