Clarkston City Council selected five events for parking in the Clarkston Mills parking lot, per owner Ed Adler’s request.
“It’s our property, not yours,” Adler said at the June 27 council meeting. “Something is going on here all the time. Some of these events are unbelievable. Waterford High School has their prom (photo op) here. I think it’s great, the kids all dressed up. But so many people come here, and they park all over the grass.”
City Manager Carol Eberhardt presented a list of events at the meeting, including a charity walk, home tour, Art in the Village, My Habitat Clarkston’s concert in the park, Taste of Clarkston, Shiver by the River, and Independence Township’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony, as well as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Holiday Lights parades.
During discussion, Council member Sharron Catallo said parades should not have been on the list.
“Parades start somewhere else and end somewhere else. Parades don’t need parking lot,” she said.
Catallo made a motion selecting the home tour, Art in the Village, Taste of Clarkston, Habitat concert, and Shiver by the River.
The motion was approved 4-1. Council member Jason Kneisc voted “no,” saying he wanted to avoid favoritism.
“I’d rather just stick with Shiver by the River – it’s the only event we (the city) sponsor,” Kneisc said.
“That’s the only event where we have standing. Otherwise, we’re going into territory we don’t want to go.”
Lehman Investment Company, which owns the lot, and the city have a lease agreement for use of the property. According to the agreement, the property owners allow parking by the public at Concerts in the Park and five other events.
In exchange, the owners get to use 12 parking spaces along Depot Road belonging to the city.
Adler said he and other Lehman Investment property owners will decide other parking requests on a case-by-case basis.
“People can ask us and we’ll make a decision,” he said.