Safety concerns of a resident triggered potential parking changes near one downtown intersection.
The Jefferson City Transportation and Traffic Commission approved multiple parking changes in the area while trying to address a resident's concern about line-of-sight while turning from Bolivar Street to Main Street.
In October, the commission reviewed a petition by Kris Nocula, owner of Polished Nail Salon on Bolivar Street, to change the intersection from a two-way stop to a four-way stop.
However, city staff said that isn't recommended for the area because of traffic flow; the commission agreed.
The members agreed line-of-sight could be an issue when vehicles park in the loading zone in front of Paddy Malone's Pub on Main Street and asked city staff to look into options.
The board ultimately approved the most complicated option presented Thursday with some amendments.
Changes need approval by the Jefferson City Council before taking effect.
City Engineer Tia Griffin said if approved, the changes likely wouldn't be implemented until summer because some require paint striping, which is best done during warm weather.
The board approved:
Changing the loading zone in front of Paddy Malone's Pub to one two-hour parking spot during business hours with the rest as prohibited parking.
Adding a loading zone to the west side of Bolivar Street, next to the businesses.
Converting the parking on the west side of Bolivar Street to parallel parking rather than angled spots currently there and placing angled spots on the east side of the street - which is currently parallel parking. As part of that, five spaces on the east side and all spaces on the west side will be limited to two-hour parking.
Griffin said switching which side of the road has angled parking will result in at least seven additional spaces along the road, plus the addition of one on West Main Street.
Nocula did not attend Thursday's meeting, but other area business owners supported the changes and were particularly interested in the additional parking for customers.
Marilee Tatman, who owns Paddy Malone's, said things were fine as they were, but she liked the idea of the additional parking spaces and supported the changes.
"I like the idea of the additional parking," she said. "I think that'll really be a benefit for all the businesses and the loading zone, I'm fine with that."
The goal of moving the loading zone off West Main Street and onto Bolivar Street goes back to Nocula's original petition about improving the line of sight when turning off Bolivar Street.
Since the section closest to the intersection - currently a loading zone - would be prohibited parking at all times, there shouldn't be vehicles parked there to obstruct the view.