Bistro's booming business a burden to neighbors

Patrons of a popular bistro are parking on residential streets when the restaurant's lot is full, so McCandless officials are considering placing parking restrictions on those streets.

Neighbors of Magoo's Bar & Bistro have complained to town officials about customers parking on their streets and noisy crowds. As a result, the Council's Public Works Committee is looking into ways to ease the parking crunch.

The bar often draws large crowds Thursdays and on weekends when bands perform inside the establishment and on the patio.

Mike Verlinich, of Mohican Avenue, said patrons at Magoo's, which is located at Route 19 and Cumberland Road, create a hazard when parking along his street and nearby Perryvista Road. Emergency vehicles do not have enough clearance to use the road, he said.

Verlinich said he would bring a petition from neighbors asking the Public Works Committee to enact parking restrictions on their streets. He said the owner should have Magoo's patrons use nearby commercial lots for overflow parking.

"When he's booming, (the other lots) are empty," he said.

Magoo's manager Jody Cummings said Tuesday that restaurant employees are told they should not park on residential streets.

"We are trying to put in a free valet service to get people to park across the street (in a business lot)," she said. "But we can't always control what our patrons do."

McCandless police Chief Gary Anderson said increased parking on the streets has created some problems.

"We have had significant difficulties in that area for the past six to seven months," said Anderson, adding that "officers have done their best" to eliminate the problem.

Verlinich said some late-night Friday crowds are rowdy and awaken dogs in the area, which makes it difficult for residents to sleep.

Anderson said the only noise ordinance on the town's books cover construction.

"We'll have to look into that, too," McCandless Council President Robert Powers said.

Cummings said she was not aware of any noise complaints related to the business.