Parking restricted on Elizabeth Street

Residents fed up with parking issues along Elizabeth Street in Rochester successfully petitioned the city to restrict parking along the east side of the street between Parkdale Avenue and Hill Street at the city council meeting on Monday, January 22.

Julie Morris, who said she has lived on the street for nearly two decades, said the lack of a sidewalk on the east side of the street in the area has led to several problems with parking, including motorists encroaching onto her lawn and damaging her sprinkler heads.

"There are instances where I can't get out of my drive because people are blocking it. Twice recently I have put out recycling and people have picked it up and put it in my driveway so they can park there... We get people in our driveways. I came home one evening and there was a group of guys in my yard selling a car," Morris said.

Rochester Police Chief Steven Schettenhelm told council members the petition included signatures from all of the affected residents except for one rental property where the resident wasn't able to be contacted, and two vacant properties.

While one resident initially objected to restricting parking, he later supported the measure after learning parking is permitted on the west side of the street.

Council voted unanimously to restrict parking on the east side of Elizabeth between Parkdale Avenue and Hill Street for one year, at which time it will be reviewed and up for further consideration.