The Ohio Valley Farmers‘ Market has been a fixture of the Ohio Valley since 1979 and a staple in Bellaire for well over a decade. Its Saturday afternoon market takes place in the municipal parking lot and sits in perfect view of travelers on Ohio 7, many of whom pull off the highway and stop to shop.
The availability of that prime real estate in downtown Bellaire has come into question as the possibility of moving the market to nearby Union Park was bandied about. Eric Rubel, a market member and owner of Cross Roads Farms in Belmont, stopped by the village council meeting Thursday to express his concerns in hopes of finding an amicable solution.
“Susan (West) brought a letter for council and I’m not sure if you’ve had a chance to read it but it basically addresses some of our concerns as what she was hearing was about a possible move from the municipal parking lot to the Village Park,” Rubel began. “There are some real concerns we have about that.”
Rubel extended the group’s appreciation to the village for use of the parking lot but noted it’s come to the OVFM’s attention about the potential of moving, despite the market not being given a reason why for said move.
The Why
As councilman Donny Maupin explained, the issue from the village’s perspective is one of parking. Belmont Street businesses like Denny’s Blue Angel and Myrtle Beach Tanning in Bellaire have paid the village for use of particular parking spots along the west side of the parking lot directly behind their respective businesses. With increased traffic and presence in downtown, the businesses want to make sure their customers have places to park.
The problem is that when the farmers’ market sets up shop each Saturday morning once the season starts, the availability of those spaces becomes an issue. That was the driving force behind discussing moving the market. Maupin did point out that he wants it known the village is fully in support of the market and wants it to remain in Bellaire.
“There are spots along the guardrail and they need access to get in and out and from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., those are their prime business hours on Saturday,” Maupin said. “They aren’t able to get to those spots. But we don’t want the market to leave Bellaire. We want you here.
“But there’s an option we’re trying to get you that will work.”
The Potential Problem(s)
Rubel tried to explain to the council the various needs the market has and the potential pitfalls of moving to the park. The first and potentially largest issue is the unloading and loading of trucks and trailers during the morning. The portion of 35th Street that runs in front of Bellaire High School would need to be blocked off.
“We need adequate parking at the site for the setup of all the vendors, including several with trucks, trailers and box trucks,” Rubel said. “They need to be able to unload but unloading and then moving is not a workable option.”
Another potential problem is parking in general for the market’s customers. The farmers’ market can bring in upwards of 200 customers per day during the 9 a.m. until noontime slot. If those customers have to park further away and walk considerable distances both to the market and then back, burdened with bags of recently purchased items, it may discourage some from stopping by.
“In St. Clairsville the market was in front of the courthouse for a few years and we had quite a problem with our customers and visitors having to find street parking and walking long distances to get to the market,” Rubel noted. “It hurt our attendance and sales. There’s quite a lot of elderly people that attend the market and it’s difficult if they have to walk a long distance.”
The St. Clairsville version of the market is on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. and now is located in the parking lot at the Ohio Valley Mall, a far more visitor, and vendor, friendly location. There’s also the issue of other festivals and activities that utilize the park throughout the spring, summer and fall months.
Possible Compromise?
“We’re sending this back to committee and they will discuss it again at their meeting and go from there,” Mayor Vince DiFabrizio told Rubel.
Village Solicitor Michael Shaheen questioned about moving the vendors to the far eastern portion of the municipal lot and more toward the southern end. That way, it would keep the 10-16 spaces in question along the western portion available for business customers whilst still giving the market room to set up and its customer spots to park.
Councilwoman Nikki Liberatore asked Rubel if the market would be open to using more of the southern portion of the parking lot.
Rubel noted the possibilities but wanted to go back and visit the parking lot and get a visual idea of feasibility. One issue discussed is that even with the shift in parking lot locale, the electric box and phone line are situated in one of the spaces in question along the guardrail. An extension of the line would have to run temporarily each Saturday and covered somehow to allow use. What becomes apparent though is that both sides appear willing to devise some type of compromise.
“I’d rather work with them to keep them in the lot, but to also keep the businesses’ slots open,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Dugmore said. “There’s a way we can make this work for everyone involved.”
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