New parking restrictions addressed by city council

Newton’s Traffic Safety Committee is once again working on various parking restrictions throughout the city. The city council approved the first readings of four ordinances that addressed four new areas reviewed by the committee.

East 4 1/2 Street South

The committee recommends listing the special parking restriction on East 4 1/2 Street South from South Seventh Avenue to South Eighth Avenue. The current ordinance restricts parking from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, when school is in session.

“Due to a parking lot expansion at the Newton Community School District, this roadway is no longer used for school parking,” interim city administrator Jarrod Wellik said. “Surveys were sent out to the neighborhood and no responses were received.”

South Second Avenue East

The recent reconstruction of South Second Avenue East has brought the road to 31 feet in the 300 block. Due to the widening of the road, it can now accommodate parking on one side of the street.

Currently, code restricts parking on both sides of the street. The committee recommends allowing parking on the north side in the 300 block.

South Third Avenue East

The Newton Church of the Way has requested parallel street parking be restricted along the north curb of South Third Avenue East between East Third Street South and East Fourth Street South. The street, which is 31 feet wide, currently allows parking on both sides with The Way neighboring on the north and Aurora Heights Elementary School to the south.

The request comes as the Way completes work on a new facility where new off-street parking has been added by way of six handicap spots and a parking lot. The handicap spaces are located south of the building and the parking lot is to the north.

Following a review of the request, the committee recommends restricting the parking, even though the road is wide enough to accommodate the vehicles. The committee cited the peak traffic times in the area, where the volume of vehicles from the church and the school increases substantially.

North 11th Avenue East

Several areas on North 11th Avenue East where parking on one or both sides of the street are being addressed to create a safe driving and parking environment for those traveling in the area.

On North 11th Avenue East between East Eighth Street and East Ninth Street there is currently no parking on the north side of the street. The committee recommends continuing the restriction from East Eighth Street North to East 12th Street North on the north side.

Near East Eighth Street there is a concern of trucks driving southbound and turning east onto North 11th Avenue East with vehicles parked on the south side of the road. The intersection is at an angle due to the railroad tracks and creates a tight turn if there are vehicles parked on the road.

The committee recommends restricting parking on the south side of North 11th Avenue East from East Eighth Street east to the driveway of Fitzgerald Siding, a distance of 170 feet.

Currently, city codes does not allow parking on the south side of North 11th Avenue East between East 12th Street and East Ninth Street. Signs are posted in the area but are often ignored, with vehicles parking on the south side of the road near an adjacent apartment complex.

It is recommended to allow parking on the south side of North 11th Avenue East from 80 feet east of the projected east curb line of East Fourth Street North to East Ninth Street North. Parking will continue to be restricted between East 12th Street North and 80 feet east of East Fourth Street North due to the area containing commercial warehousing and light industrial businesses that utilize the full street width to maneuver semi-trailers in and out of driveways.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com