Geneseo Merchants Divided on Parking Time, All Want Better Signage

GENESEO – Main Street merchants had an opportunity to speak with the Village Board on Monday to discuss the surge in parking meter enforcement, and seem divided on whether increased enforcement has hindered or helped businesses.

The Geneseo Village Board spoke openly with merchants and community members at a special meeting intended to address growing concerns over the number of tickets being issued and the lack of viable parking alternatives.

“We can say for sure that ‘A’ we have parking meters and ‘B’ there has to be enforcement,” said Geneseo Mayor Richard Hatheway.  “We’ve seen what happens when we don’t have enforcement, and it’s not a pretty sight.”

Merchants were clearly divided on the amount of time that people should be allowed to park on Main Street. As it stands, meters marked with a green sticker are for one-hour parking, and meters marked with orange stickers are for two-hour parking. There is currently no signage other than what is posted on the meters themselves explaining the parking rules and regulations.

An issue that was raised regarding SUNY Geneseo students who have one-hour classes and take up one of very few spots in front of Main Street business customers.

Also discussed was the issue of parking on Second Street, which during the day is essentialy reduced to a one-lane street. Some of those present expressed an interest in residential parking permits that could limit roadside parking and help traffic congestion.

Overall, an overwhelming majority of those present said that they would prefer to see better signage alerting out-of-towners to the municipal parking lot accessible from Main by Center and Chestnut Streets.

Joining the Village Board members and community members were Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Downtown Development coordinator Louise Wadsworth and a representative from SUNY Geneseo.