At its July regular meeting, Town Council approved changes to the number and distribution of parking spaces on Pendleton Street.

Council acted, it said, in response to "concerns raised by town residents regarding vehicular conflicts in the narrow portion of N. Pendleton between the Safeway entrance and the Upper Crust Bakery."

Despite strenuous objections from the Stine family, owners of the Upper Crust, Council directed "that the two short-term stopping spaces along the bakery frontage be relocated to safer places within the same block."

According to Council, "One new short-term parking space will be created just south of the old stopping area" in front of the bakery, "where the Town Police and the Town's traffic engineer have found a space can be safely located."

Two new "short-term spaces will be created on the east side of N. Pendleton Street by removing two of the existing metered spaces adjacent to the Safeway."

According to Police Chief A. J. Panebianco, the Middleburg Police Department will gradually "phase in the enforcement of no parking along the bakery frontage" and do its best to "assist the community in adapting to the new parking plan."

During Council's late June work session Town Administrator Martha Semmes reported that "she had kept the Stines apprised of the situation," had "let them know the Town was doing tests" to determine how best to improve the safety of the intersection, and had provided the family "with copies of the staff reports." Despite those efforts, she reported, the family was still concerned about the impact of changes on their business.

After lengthy discussion and analysis of current traffic patterns on Pendleton Street, Council remains convinced, according to a press release, that its new plan offers "a fair solution to an existing traffic and pedestrian safety issue that will increase safety for all while respecting a long-standing business."