KC-area city changes parking rules on busy street after businesses complained

The North Kansas City Council voted to extend 15-minute parking along Swift Street outside of a local bakery.

The new ordinance extends the 15-minute parking limit during McLain’s peak hours from Monday through Friday to seven days a week, except on holidays. The ordinance passed 7-1, with Anthony Sager, one of the councilmembers for Ward 1, being the only one who opposed.

North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith was not in attendance.

Previously, Mollie Lothman, the co-owner of McLain’s Market, at 1720 Swift St. in North Kansas City, attended a City Council meeting to request that the city extend parking enforcement along Swift, as customers and other business owners in the area have complained about people abusing the spots during the weekend.

Lothman said people would park in the spots directly outside McLain’s right at 6 p.m. on Friday and would not move until the clock starts on Monday morning. McLain’s is open seven days a week. During the weekend, customers and employees helping customers pick up large orders found themselves walking further due to people parking for long periods.

Yet, Sager denied that any problem existed.

“It’s looking for a problem,” he said. “The parking at Swift on Saturdays, for instance, there is lots of parking.”

“They may have to walk across the street, they may have to walk about a block to get to that establishment,” he said. “But there really is no problem.”

Kristen Click, the other councilmember for Ward 1, said she hopes the ordinance does not cause an influx of businesses asking for “preferential treatment.”

The city said there will be a parking study done “very shortly” to address parking issues and complaints citywide.