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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Summary from July 27, 2000 meeting COUNCIL ACTION SUMMARY Meeting Date: 7127100 Agenda Item #: Comments SUBJECT: Petition from Property Owners Requesting that the Current Parking Regulations for Howard Avenue and Portions of West Street be Revised ACTION TAI(EN: Referred to staff. MOTION BY: Quirmbach SECOND BY: Cross VOTING AYE: Cross, Goodhue, Hoffman, Quirmbach, Wirth VOTING NAY: None ABSENT: Campbell ByaA0'V,)`L,�-d,d, Diane Voss, City Clerk Copy to: Scott Logan Dated: April 21, 2000 Dear Members of the Ames City Council: We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the current parking regulations for Howard Ave. and portions of West Street be revised as indicated on the attached map. Currently, these streets have alternate side of the street parking. When ISU classes are in session, the streets are filled by 8 a.m. with cars of ISU students and staff who park all day and walk to campus. When one car leaves, the remaining spot is immediately taken. It is nearly impossible for residents or their guests to park on the'street. While we appreciate the inconvenience and/or lack of parking at ISU, we do not feel it is our responsibility to in effect,turn our neighborhood residential streets into ISU parking lots. We would like to see the current parking regulations changed by: 1)prohibiting all on-street parking Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., or 2) by restricting parking to 4-hour intervals. We also request that all parking be banned on West Street from the intersection of Woodland to the intersection of Howard(see map). This section of West Street is very narrow, and the sharp turn in the street creates very poor visibility. On a related note, we would also like to see a stop sign installed on Howard Avenue at the intersection with West Street. There is quite a bit of pedestrian and bike traffic on West Street. Adding a stop sign to Howard would force turning vehicles to slow down and it would help to make the intersection safer. Thank you for your attention to these matters. If you have any questions, you can contact Sue Weiss, 215 Howard Ave. (292-5332). Name Address Phone Number 2. Zi -5332- 7-1)5 VC �a3 1,ves S-+ 3ia -S&6� tee- - A 3D.0510, Parking Petition-Page 1 Dated: April 21, 2000 Dear Members of the Ames City Council: We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the current parking regulations for Howard Ave. and portions of West Street be revised as indicated on the attached map. Currently, these streets have alternate side of the street parking. When ISU classes are in session, the streets are filled by 8 a.m. with cars of ISU students and staff who park all day and walk to campus. When one car leaves,the remaining spot is immediately taken. It is nearly impossible for residents or their guests to park on the*street. While we appreciate the inconvenience and/or lack of parking at ISU, we do not feel it is our responsibility to in effect,turn our neighborhood residential streets into ISU parking lots. We would like to see the current parking regulations changed by: 1)prohibiting all on-street parking Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., or 2) by restricting parking to 4-hour intervals. We also request that all parking be banned on West Street from the intersection of Woodland to the intersection of Howard(see map). This section of West Street is very narrow, and the sharp turn in the street creates very poor visibility. On a related note, we would also like to see a stop sign installed on Howard Avenue at the intersection with West Street. There is quite a bit of pedestrian and bike traffic on West Street. Adding a stop sign to Howard would force turning vehicles to slow down and it would help to make the intersection safer. Thank you for your attention to these matters. If you have any questions, you can contact Sue Weiss, 215 Howard Ave. (292-5332). Name Address Phone Number 1. Zi 2. -533Z 3. ' t, 9�-I a�gl 02 7. Z s+9. (AUAU(Ma�.4 tj),Qfk, 10. 9. 411 54Tee aka- g Parking Petition-Page 1 r Dated: April 21, 2000 Dear Members of the Ames City Council: We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the current parking regulations for Howard Ave. and portions of West Street be revised as indicated on the attached map. Currently, these streets have alternate side of the street parking. When ISU classes are in session, the streets are filled by 8 a.m. with cars of ISU students and staff who park all day and walk to campus. When one car leaves,the remaining spot is immediately taken. It is nearly impossible for residents or their guests to park on the street. While we appreciate the inconvenience and/or lack of parking at ISU, we do not feel it is our responsibility to in effect, turn our neighborhood residential streets into ISU parking lots. We would like to see the current parking regulations changed by: 1)prohibiting all on-street parking Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., or 2) by restricting parking to 4-hour intervals. We also request that all parking be banned on West Street from the intersection of Woodland to the intersection of Howard(see map). This section of West Street is very narrow, and the sharp turn in the street creates very poor visibility. On a related note, we would also like to see a stop sign installed on Howard Avenue at the intersection with West Street. There is quite a bit of pedestrian and bike traffic on West Street. Adding a stop sign to Howard would force turning vehicles to slow down and it would help to make the intersection safer. Thank you for your attention to these matters. If you have any questions, you can contact Sue Weiss, 215 Howard Ave. (292-5332). Name Address Phone Number 21 01/1 - 5332- 4. r-1/1;,, 16�0,2 04�'k Ord 6jt'f Sfi ? 92 5. X 6. 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I am very concerned due to the proposed parking changes that have been petitioned. Any changes would greatly disrupt my current living arrangements and become a serious inconvenience throughout the neighborhood. At our residence we have two parking spots available and three people living in one apartment. I depend on the street to park my vehicle when my roommates are in the other spots. My needs, obligations, and commitments would be seriously jeopardized with a place to park. As a resident of West Street I believe it is unacceptable to change the current parking policy. (signed by 2 residents) - For parking on West Street, our choice would be option #1 — No Parking 8 to 5 (Monday to Friday). Also, I agree with removal of parking on West Street from Woodland to Howard. Should suggest additionally the consideration of stop signs at the Howard/West intersection, and Wilmoth and West, to slow traffic passing thru. - Most days we have illegal parking on West Street. Pictures show a typcal day and when you have parking on both sides of the street during the day, West Street becomes very dangerous. - I am writing this letter to oppose the proposed changes in parking on West Street. This would eliminate 20 parking spaces that have been available for years and years. We have more students at Iowa State each year; it doesn't make sense to eliminate parking. The 20 cars that are parking there now will park somewhere, of course, if not there. The "lack of sight distance" on West Street is no different than elsewhere in the City. You have done an excellent job of painting the setback. I know I'll probably loose in this situation if you are counting votes, I do hope you count only the votes of those living on West Street between Howard and Wilmoth. I have a number of properties along West Street, if that carries a little weight. - We would support resolution #1 with no parking 8-5 (Monday — Friday). And alternate side parking after five with a 9-12 turnover period. I don't feel that option #2 would be very effective because it would be too hard to enforce. Cars sit on the wrong side of the street now from midnight to noon without being ticketed. Also, we support the no parking on both sides of West Street between Howard and Woodland. So much of the time when driving down this section of the street you meet a bicycle or a car and with parking on the street, it makes it extremely dangerous because there is only enough room for one vehicle and the problem is compounded in the winter time. - We are writing this letter in opposition of the proposed changes in the parking situation on West Street. As residents of West Street, we rely on street parking (at least one space) to park our personal vehicles. We are all students attending Iowa State University. Currently, six individuals live in this duplex unit; there are three of us upstairs and three young men downstairs. All six of us own a vehicle. We have access to 4 parking spaces (two in the garage and two in the driveway). The other two vehicles must find a spot to park along the street. Even now, with the few spaces available on West Street, finding a spot can be difficult. One of the primary reasons we chose to live here (and pay higher rent) was to live close to campus and have a place to park all of our vehicles. We fear that by eliminating parking on West Street, we will be forced to find parking several blocks away from our home; not to mention, compete with the numerous other individuals that will also be required to "relocate" their vehicles. (signed by three residents) Howard Avenue Proposed Parking Prohibition Changes Comments • 1 recently received your letter in regard to the suggested parking changes on or around Howard Avenue,. I agree 100% with the sight problems on West Street from Woodland Street to Howard Avenue. Our differences arise when talking about Howard Avenue itself. I feel prohibiting parking to all automobiles is not a logical argument to free up parking for the current residents. If parking is prohibited to all, I still could not park in front of my own house. It seems selfish. The informational letter also state limited sight and potential accidents as a reason to prohibit parking. This argument is very true for West Street, but very untrue for Howard Avenue. Howard Avenue is as wide as any other street or avenue in this "young person's neighborhood. By passing new legislation the city council would be setting a potentially damaging precedence. If the city is going to prohibit parking on Howard Avenue, then it should also include "Lettie, Woodland, Story, West, Franklin, Oakland, Tripp, Wilmoth, Colorado, Wood, Hunt, Knapp, Stanton, and Crane". (Signed by 5 residents) • Appreciate opportunity for input. Would agree with the proposal #1. (i.e. prohibiting all on-street parking from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 P.M.) 1 am very much in favor of eliminating the on-street parking on West Street from Howard to Woodland. The street is not wide enough to pass vehicles going the other way when cars are parked on West. Also, the curve makes it hard to see around parked cars. As far as parking on Howard, either option would be an improvement and I would support either one. • Why not Story Street too! 4-hour limit is a good one, but make it from 8:00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. maybe. You know, I think something like this should be considered around the City hospital and McFarland Clinic area. Employees from those businesses do park on the streets just like the students do out west. Treat all areas of congestion alike. In my opinion, treat like areas a like, not just spots here and there. P.S. I don't really see this situation on Howard and West as a problem. I think somebody is making a mountain out of a molehill. • Parking prohibited on both sides of West Street from Howard Avenue to Woodland Street is a good idea. I'm not sure about the Howard Avenue parking, but maybe 4-hour intervals could be worked out. • 1 am a property owner of a rental house on Howard Avenue and am concerned about the possibility of changing the existing alternate side parking designation for Howard Avenue. As you know, Howard Avenue is only two blocks long. Howard Avenue Parking -t - Before we purchased the house, I did some research and discovered there were only 2-3 actual single family housed on that street. The rest were rental properties. Most of the property all along Howard Avenue is zone R-2, R-3, or R- 4. Since 1998, the city has granted additional zoning requests changing properties from R-2 to R-4. We, as property owners, feel changing the designation to "No Parking Mondays — Fridays or limiting the parking to 4 hours would not only be a disservice to the students and residents who park there but an additional financial burden to the city because of having to enforce rules that clearly discriminate against students AND the few single families that live there. Take a look at who would be served by adopting either of the proposed parking designations: You say residents have complained of not being able to find a parking space on the street for themselves or guests during the day because of student vehicles, yet one of your solutions is to eliminate parking all together during the day. Who are you serving there? Certainly not residents. Students who parking on Howard Avenue who do not live on that street are gone by 4 p.m. weekdays and those students who do live on Howard Avenue have every right to park there. They are residents. But by adopting either of the two new proposals, only visitors would be able to park on the street ... no property owners....no residents of Howard Avenue.... No long term guests of either would be eligible. So my question remains.... Who is served by either of the new parking designations? Certainly not the property owners and certainly not the students who live on Howard Avenue. Recently, a neighbor to the north did some extensive remodeling to his home. There were contractors who needed to leave equipment there that was parked in the street for weeks at a time. They dutifully obeyed the alternate side parking but at least they were able to leave their trailer and equipment on site to expedite their duties. Even contractors would be forced to find parking on some other street if working at a site on Howard Avenue. I frequently stop at our rental during all hours of the day and night both when classes are in session, and when they are not. I have never had a problem finding a place to park on this street nor have I had any difficulty in accessing my driveways. We have done considerable repair work to the house and none of my contractors have had any difficulty accessing our property or finding a place to park on the street. This street is NOT a major thru street to West Street nor is it inhabited by primarily single families... it is a quiet street where responsible students live and because of its proximity to campus — it is a great place to temporarily park their cars during normal class hours. I petition the city as a property owner to leave Howard Avenue just as it is! Keep the current "Alternate Side Parking" designation! Howard Avenue Parking -2-