WEST FARGO - The parking predicament on Meyer Drive didn't go unnoticed by city employees here, but complaints from businessmen last month came before staff could devise a solution.
Officials from the public works and planning departments told West Fargo commissioners Monday night that the parking issues stem from "sins of the past" in the city's planning and development of that area, just northwest of 13th Avenue South and Ninth Street East.
Two employees with United Automotive Tech Center, 728 Meyer Drive, filed formal complaints with the city in March, asking the West Fargo Commission to restrict parking on the drive.
Charlie Lindstrom and John Wagner alleged the problem worsened after the arrival of JL Beers, which opened in December at 810 13th Ave. E. across the street from the tech center.
Commissioners agreed Monday to give city staff one month to meet with business owners on Meyer Drive and compile a list of possible solutions - and at what potential cost they may come.
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Kurt Jankowski, the director of service operations at United Automotive, told the commissioners he's met with neighboring businesses since Friday to gauge their support for limited parking on the south side of the drive. Some opposed the idea because their employees park on the street.
Jankowski said his business is open to other solutions, but the parking issue needs to be addressed in some way.
"One of our concerns would be if there's a fire and the road's blocked off because of a delivery truck," Jankowski said, referencing problems related to JL Beers. "I think that's a pretty good way to look at it: If you can get a fire truck through there at any time of day, then you'll be OK. But I doubt you can do that now."
Neither Lindstrom nor Wagner was present at the meeting.
Meyer Drive is 30 feet wide, which is enough space for one lane of parking and two-way traffic, Assistant Public Works Director Chris Brungardt said.
Not all businesses on the drive have adequate parking for their customers and employees, so parking overflows onto both sides of the street.
The problem has worsened with the arrival of new businesses to the block, Senior Planner Steve Zimmer said.
"The issues have been there, and they've been exacerbated," Zimmer said. "We wanted to be able to contact the businesses to find a solution, but it came to a head here."
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Lance Thorson, a co-owner of JL Beers, said he was willing to discuss potential solutions.
Also during Monday's meeting, West Fargo School District officials presented their plans for a May 24 bond issue vote.
Voters will decide on a $82.5 million bond issue to expand the Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center into a high school and build a new middle school and two elementary schools.
West Fargo Commissioner Duane Hanson, a former member of the school board, asked the commission to endorse the district's plans through a formal vote. Due to Commissioner Mark Simmons' absence Monday, Mayor Rich Mattern scheduled the vote for the commission's April 18 meeting.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Kristen Daum at (701) 241-5541
