County approves Genoa parking ordinance

Residents of one of Nevada’s oldest streets may finally see some relief from the weekend congestion after an ordinance limiting parking was approved by Douglas County commissioners on Thursday.

It has been eight months since Mill Street residents in Genoa presented a petition to the town seeking to limit parking on the street that runs just south of the Genoa Bar.

Residents will receive passes to park on Mill Street.

The ordinance also eliminates parking on Junction Alley, which runs from Carson Street to Candy Dance Lane.

Mill Street residents have expressed issues with parking ever since the improvements added diagonal parking spaces just off Main Street.

On mild weekends, the town is filled with visitors who take advantage of every available spot in the town.

Mill Street was one of the first streets in town and predated the invention of the internal combustion engine.

“As one of the most historic streets in Genoa, the historic houses had been built close to the street thus leaving some homes to have only street parking,” petitioners said. “With visitors parking on Mill Street, residents have no room for themselves or their guests to park.”

At Thursday’s hearing, commissioner Wes Rice, who represents the town in addition to Lake Tahoe, said parking on Mill Street was a public safety concern.

“You couldn’t get a fire truck up that road if you had a crane,” he said.

The ordinance takes effect May 1, according to the county.

Town Manager Matt Bruback told county commissioners that he was working with county planning staff to authorize the use of a parcel between Mill Street and the former Trimmer Outpost as a parking lot.

Owned by longtime Genoa resident and rancher Lisa Lekumberrry, the lot would hold 20 vehicles.

In order to use the property for parking, the town will have to work out the parcel map and obtain a special use permit from the Douglas County Planning Commission.

The town is proposing to lease the site from Lekumberry.