Free parking for Canonsburg events considered
CANONSBURG – The Canonsburg Downtown Canonsburg council is considering providing free parking for various events throughout the year. Merchants Association is requesting free parking in the downtown business district for its monthly Thursday night markets and other events.
“One of their questions was could we approve from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. free parking once a month for the people we are trying to attract into our businesses here in town,” Mayor Dave Rhome told council at Monday’s meeting. “It’s a part of everyone working together. It puts more people on our streets and makes our businesses (seen).”
Patrons must pay to park Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Council President Rich Russo said the request for free parking for each event was fair, but carries a financial impact.
Council issued a bond to pay for the new Eagles parking lot on North Central Avenue, behind the old Citizens Bank building. The borough has an obligation to repay the bond. The bond involved three capital projects at a total of $3.1 million, with the parking lot portion being $1.2 million.
“One of the ways we were able to raise that bond was to have paid parking,” Russo said. “You may have to maintain things in order for that bond not to be called. There’s a whole host of covenants in that bond, and I think one of them might be you have to have paid parking.”
Councilman Eric Chandler said what will have to be explored is what the financial impact will be if free parking is only offered for a few hours for specific events.
Russo said $175,000 is budgeted for revenues generated through parking with fines, permits, kiosk and meters.
“If you take 20% of that away or 10% of that away, what’s the impact?” Russo asked.
The matter is expected to be discussed in June, but council has allowed free parking for this Thursday’s market.
Rhome also said he has received complaints about grass spilling out onto borough roadways, with a lot of those complaints coming from motorcyclists.
“People cut the grass and it goes out onto the roadways,” Rhome said. “If the grass gets wet, it’s pretty slippery and dangerous, especially for motorcycles.
Council also approved a conditional use for a speakeasy (hidden bar) to be located at 14 N. Jefferson Ave. The motion was approved by each of the five members of council in attendance Monday. Not in attendance were council members Diane Richie and John Severine.
The building once housed a dentist’s office, but has been vacant for a number of years. A liquor license transfer already has been approved.
Also approved was a motion to authorize submitting a Greeways, Trails and Recreation program grant application not to exceed $212,550 to the Commonwealth Financing Authority, Department of Community and Economic Development, for a project to install new restrooms at Canonsburg Town Park.
Also approved was the appointment of Bob Osterman to the Frank Sarris Public Library Board as the Canonsburg representative.