FULTON, NY – A rule for legal notices has pushed public hearing that originally planned for Tuesday evening to later this month.
Last week, the city agreed to advertise for a public hearing to change the time limits for parking spaces in lot 5, which is located adjacent to the Tavern on the Lock Restaurant. Fulton Mayor Ronald Woodward noted that the original hearing date did not allow for the required two-week notice for public hearings.
As the council voted to advertise for the new date, Woodward explained that the proposed change to the parking lot time limits would only affect 25 parking spaces on the outside perimeter of lot 5.
“Those are the ones being considered for two-hour parking,” Woodward said. “The others would remain the same.”
At this time, all-day parking is allowed in the entire lot. This past month, restaurant owner Susan Ryan approached the council with a request to change the time limits to two-hour parking in an effort to free some spaces for lunch customers. Ryan noted that the lack of a time restriction was affecting lunch business at the restaurant as patrons had no place to park.
“It has become detrimental to our lunch business,” Ryan said at the time. “If we don’t have lunch (business), we are going to be closing.”
“This has been going on ever since I’ve been around,” Woodward said.
Third Ward Alderman Robert Weston agreed and noted that downtown employees who use the lot while they are at work likely make up the bulk of the problem.
“The employees are taking up all of the good spots,” Weston said.
Officials have worked to encourage downtown employees to use the city lot 3, across Oneida Street from lot 5, that is available for public parking but often underused. Weston pointed out that Woodward is taking steps to create additional spaces in that lot.
“There are 22 spaces now,” Weston said. Woodward noted that the amount of spaces could be doubled with little effort.
First Ward Alderman Tom Kenyon pointed out that when he drives through the downtown area at 8:30 a.m., lot 5 is usually already full. He suggested that motorists could be using the lot to drop off cars and carpool to Syracuse.
Sixth Ward Alderman Russell Hayden asked his colleagues to take time in the coming weeks to monitor the parking situation in the early mornings.
“I will go check,” Kenyon said.
The public hearing on the proposed changes will be held July 15.
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