Council approves no parking zone on Pinecrest

Lance Martin Herald Senior Staff Writer

ROANOKE RAPIDS - In a matter related to recent parking problems at Belmont Elementary School, Roanoke Rapids City Council approved a no parking zone covering 180 feet on both sides of Pinecrest Avenue at Bolling Road.

The status goes into effect immediately and prohibits parking and loading and unloading of vehicles from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

In a Nov. 8 memo from Police Chief Greg Lawson to City Manager Phyllis Lee, Lawson wrote, “Several residents that live on Pinecrest Avenue have expressed concerns about motorist and pedestrian safety due to parking on Pinecrest Avenue at Bolling Road during school hours.”

Lawson noted the problem occurs when parents park on both sides of Pinecrest Avenue when dropping off and picking up their children. The Roanoke Rapids Graded School District did expand the parking lot and provide a traffic circulation plan in an effort to end the congestion problem.

However, “although additional parking at Belmont has improved the traffic conditions, parents continue to park on Pinecrest Avenue to drop off and pick up their children,” the memo said. “As a result, traffic conditions on Pinecrest are a safety concern for both pedestrian and the motoring public as the travel portion of the roadway is reduced when parking occurs.”

Lawson told council at its meeting Tuesday night, “We intend to enforce this and educate the public.”