03/19/13 Last week Sandra Harris appeared before the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety with a long-standing issue. Harris lives at the corner of Harrison and Walnut Streets, the northwest corner. The issue at hand is neighbors parking in her yard. There is no curb on Harrison Street and cars pull onto the easement, the grassy area between the street and the sidewalk.
Harris said the area is rutted and muddy. She said a call to the police department resulted in an officer stopping by and telling her “it’s a gray area.” She also spoke with Jim Marquardt, Superintendent of the Street Department. His suggestion was to place stakes at the edge of the street to stop the parking. Harris said she purchased 10 stakes and only has one left; all the others were removed by people parking in the area.
Sandra Harris asked for no parking signs on the north side of Harrison Street. She also suggested having a curb installed to keep people from pulling onto the easement.
Both city councilmen, Duane Culp and Don Ecker said they travel the roadway daily and have seen issues in the area. The street seems to narrow and get tighter in that block.
The Board of Public Works and Safety tabled any action so that councilmen could have the opportunity to travel Harrison Street for themselves and see the issue.
Beyond on the aesthetics and respect of property issue, the volume of traffic that travels that road makes street parking on Harrison dangerous. There is a significant amount of semi traffic on that road during the week. That combined with people parking on the street would cause serious congestion. Plus there is an increased potential of traffic accidents at the Plum & Harrison intersection mentioned by AnnF which has seen far too many already. Having lived at the home with my mom (Sandy Harris) for over a decade before moving to South Bend, I can honestly say that it boggles my mind to think that someone would consider parking on Harrison. As a matter of personal safety, it is something that I always kept from doing myself. I’m surprised that parking hasn’t been restricted on this road long before this discussion.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe that is technically city property.
I would appreciate it while the council members are inspecting this area to also increase their awareness West on this same block. There is a porch enlargement and a sign that abut the sidewalk. When traveling South on Plum, one cannot check for oncoming vehicles from the East without pulling out their front ends into Harrison.
a few stakes in cement should do the trick, if you want to go that far.
This is typical of the lack of respect for other people and their property exibited by so many. They believe anything that inconveniences them does not exist. Why not text and drive? I have texts to send, or phone calls to make, or need to update my social network site with the latest trivial drivel. I need a place to park, so what if it’s not my land, I didn’t buy it, and don’t pay the taxes on it. So what if it tears up their lawn…I don’t mow it, fill in the divets, or look at it so why should I care?
A little respect and consideration would go a long way, also, that gray area should be made black and white. If it’s not yours don’t use it without permission. Whoever stole those posts and parked there should have been charged with theft and tresspassing.