Parking lot at city hall to close temporarily
By Angie Landsverk
Paving of the reconstructed parking areas in downtown Waupaca is planned to take place on Monday, Sept. 24.
The striping to mark the parking spots is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
This work includes the parking lot behind city hall and the library, as well as East Fulton, Jefferson and East Union streets.
The parking lot and streets will be closed to traffic on both days.
Pedestrian traffic will be allowed on the concrete sidewalks.
While the city opened East Fulton Street and a portion of the parking lot last month, those areas also need to be closed, so the final layer of asphalt may be placed on them.
The layout of this area was discussed when the common council met on Sept. 18.
It will not change after the council voted 8-1 to maintain the layout it previously approved.
Lori Chesnut voted no, and Steve Hackett was absent.
That vote means perpendicular parking will remain on East Fulton Street and in the parking lot behind city hall and the library.
Prior to the reconfiguration, those areas had angle parking.
“When we opened up Phase I with temporary striping, there were concerns from the council and public. We did have some individuals come in (to city hall),” said Brennan Kane, Waupaca’s director of community and economic development.
He said the city received both positive and negative comments regarding the layout.
One concern the city heard was East Fulton Street feels narrower.
Kane said that is a perception because of the reoriented parking.
Fulton Street’s width remains the same, he said.
He said the width of the parking stalls – 9 feet – is the same width of the parking stalls at Swan Park.
“It is a change. I think the project and reconstruction of Main Street in 2021 will provide multiple places to park where people feel comfortable,” said Kane.
The parking layout is in preparation for the reconstruction of Main Street.
Kane said the city will lose between 30 and 40 parking stalls on Main Street when that project takes place, due to safety enhancements.
“So we identified this project as something to move forward with ahead of time, to create extra parking,” he said.
The reconfiguration of the city square parking is adding about 30 stalls to that area.
Members of the common council commented on the layout.
Ald. Scott Purchatzke said the focus is pro-business by providing parking spaces for potential customers.
Noting the number of retirees in the community, Ald. Lori Chesnut expressed concerns about the “tightness” in the area.
It was noted that on East Union Street, the parking layout will remain as it was before – angle parking on one side of the street and parallel parking on the other side.
Ald. Eric Olson has also heard negative comments about the new layout.
He understands the idea is the desire to gain more parking spaces.
“I keep telling people to wait until it’s done,” Olson said.
Ald. Paul Mayou said he understands the new layout is a change.
“But we have our people who know what they’re doing,” he said.
His comment was in reference to the engineers, consultants, Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials and city staff involved in the project.
“I think we have the obligation to listen to the people we hired and our staff and take their advice,” Mayou said. “I think we should go with this design and move forward.”
Mayor Brian Smith said, “I think it is important to remember Union Street will be open, along with Fulton and Jefferson, so there’s won’t be a cluster. We do have alternative parking downtown. If you want angle parking, there are areas to angle park on Main Street and on Union Street.”
He also said people will see improvements when the final layer of asphalt is placed, and extra space will be added where it is possible.
“I am downtown. I am here every day,” the mayor said. “These parking spots are being used every day.”