The Mount Vernon City Council voted to establish permanent no parking zones In the Stonebrook subdivision ahead of the Mustang Activities Complex opening this fall.
Those no parking zones include:
• Along the east side of 15th Avenue S.W. from 10th Street S.W. to the intersection with Third Street S.W.,
• Both sides of 15th Avenue from 10th Street S.W. to the intersection of Palisades Road
• The south side of Sixth Street S.W. From 15th Avenue S.W. to 13th Avenue S.W.
• The east side of 13th Avenue S.W. from Sixth Street S.W. to the south edge of the driveway at 440 13th Avenue S.W., the west side of 13th Avenue S.W. from the south edge of the driveway at 349 13th Avenue S.W. to the north edge of driveway at 515 13th Avenue S.W.
• The north side of Third Street S.W. from 10th Avenue S.W. to 15th Avenue S.W.
Police chief Doug Shannon said the goal was to help keep roads with clear egress for emergency services, as 15th Avenue and 13th Avenue are thoroughfares that connect through the community.
“We are also concerned that placing temporary signs along this stretch of road will be hard to enforce if someone forgets an event that is going on,” Shannon said. “With the activities complex being used for events including band performances, football, track and soccer, that we’re just not a fan of temporary signage as this will be a frequent or repetitive issue.”
Council member Paul Tuerler, who resides on Second Ave. North, said he is a firm believer in keeping traffic moving freely while still providing access for people who reside there for parking.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said that people will park as close to an event as they can, as evidenced by parking issues around the Mount Vernon Middle school.
Superintendent Greg Batenhorst also noted this was being pursued as a resolution to be able to allow the school and city to easily change items in the future.
“It isn’t something etched in stone that will be in place for the next five years,” Batenhorst said. “If there’s something we see isn’t working as intended or other issues, we can bring this to amend and make this fixable.”
Lance Schoff, Duane Sprague, Ani Snyder, Robert Penn, Sr., Babs Moore, Vickie Kriz, and Mark North had sent letters or phone calls about the proposed changes ahead of the resolution.
Stop signs also planned for StonebrookPolice chief Doug Shannon also was looking to have more stop signs installed in the Stonebrook subdivision for safety concerns, especially the trail and sidewalk system that connects students to the schools.
Permanent stop signs will be installed at:
• 16th Avenue Place S.W. at Third Street S.W.
• Fifth Street S.W. at 16th Avenue Place.
• Park View Court at Third Street S.W.
• 4-way stop intersection at 17th Avenue and Third Street S.W.
• 4-way stop intersection at 17th Avenue and Eighth Street S.W.
• On 16th Avenue Court at Third Street S.W.
• On 16th Avenue at Third Street S.w.
• 4-way stop intersection at 15th Avenue and Eighth Street S.W.
• On 17th Avenue at Palisades Road S.W.
• On 18th Avenue at Third Street S.W.
• On Sixth Street West at 18th Avenue S.W.
• On 18th Avenue S.W. at Eighth Street