Parking is a hassle in small cities like Warren all around the country.

Part of the reason for that is that it’s impossible to meet everyone’s parking needs all the time. Take, for example, Fred Watson, the owner of Fred’s Pet Shop who spoke during a recent City Council meeting about parking issues on the 200 block of Warren near his store. The block includes unmetered parking spaces that are being used for extended periods of time, meaning the spaces aren’t available for those who are trying to come to businesses on the 200 block.

The store owner is requesting signs for either 10- or 15-minute parking limits for the unmetered spaces and for downtown visitors to make better use of nearby lots for short-term parking.

That all sounds perfectly reasonable. The unmetered spaces seem to create confusion compared to other metered spaces or spaces clearly marked as loading or unloading zones.

We have a feeling, though, that a building owner made a similar argument that provided the reason behind creating the unmetered spaces in the first place.

That plea, we’re sure, was also perfectly reasonable at the time.

Watson wants a quick answer, which city officials should give one way or the other once they have the opportunity to investigate the issue further. Whatever is decided, though, isn’t likely to be the last word on the matter.

When it comes to parking, what’s reasonable is in the eye of the beholder.