A proposal to restrict parking to one side of White Oak Street in Hampshire brought a roomful of residents to the last village board meeting of 2016.
The proposed restriction is currently a non-issue due to the village’s winter parking rules.
Village ordinance states that no parking is allowed “on all streets in the village between the hours of 1 and 6 a.m. each day, notwithstanding any other provision of this village code, provided this prohibition shall apply only from and after November 1 of each year up to and including April 1 of the following year. Parking over the sidewalk is now allowed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. all year round.”
Residents who live along White Oak Street voiced their concerns about what their parking situation might be like in the spring if the proposed new parking regulation was enacted.
“I am opposed to one side of the street parking,” said John Lund. “We have 35 people over for Easter dinner every year. I think the street works well the way it is now.”
Roxanne Bloomberg said she talked with residents of all the homes along White Oak Street.
“We are all pretty much against it,” Bloomberg said. “Having parking on just one side creates a potential for increased speed, blocking of mailboxes and inconvenience for guests coming to our homes. I feel the benefits outweigh the risks.”
“If you limit parking to one side, safety will be a big issue,” said Blake Brigham.
“I think you would see more speeding with parking on just one side,” said Monica Lee Woosley. “I didn’t buy my house to be on a thoroughfare.”
“I oppose a new parking ban,” said Ken Sweet. “We already have a parking ban in the winter. Parking on just one side will increase speeding. There are a lot of families along White Oak Street with teens who will soon be driving.”
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Lionel Mott, who has lived in Hampshire for the past 14 years, stressed how important it is to make the streets safe for the children.
Hampshire Trustee Mike Reid said that the proposal for parking on just one side of White Oak Street was first brought up in May 2015.
“An ordinance was presented, but we tabled it because there was no public involvement,” Reid said. “That’s not the way we do business in Hampshire. Our original issue is a safety concern. There are 52 homes along White Oak Street, and the street is a half mile long.”
“This is a major safety issue,” said Trustee George Brust. “I drive along White Oak Street, and I have been passed by an SUV.”
Hampshire Fire Protection District Chief Bill Robinson said the far north radius of the street is the major issue.
“We need to focus on the north curve,” agreed Village President Jeffrey Magnussen. “Both the Hampshire Fire Protection District and the Hampshire Police Department say it is a public safety issue. At the minimum, we should reduce parking on the curve.”
Reid thanked the residents for attending the meeting and offering their comments.
“We now have something to go on,” Reid said. “We will continue this discussion. We will make a commitment to White Oak residents to come up with a solution before spring.”
In addition to looking at ways to increase safety on White Oak Street, the village has considered the possibility of lowering the speed on all residential streets from 30 to 25 miles per hour. A speed study would be needed before such a reduction could take place. Hampshire village engineers Brad Sanderson and Julie Morrison of Engineering Enterprises have estimated that a study would cost between $15,000 to $20,000.
In addition, Sanderson sent a letter on Dec. 12, to Steve Travia, bureau chief of traffic operations of the Illinois Department of Transportation, to request a review of the speed limit between Centennial Drive and the eastern limits of the Tuscany Woods subdivision, just east of Romke Road, along Illinois 72.
“The current speed limit is 55 miles per hour,” the letter stated. “We would like consideration for a reduction.”
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.