HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Email from Tera Lawson, opposing change in parking regulations "Lawson, Tera J [CTLT]" To "bobanncamp@aol.com"<bobanncamp@aol.com>,
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Subject Consideration of Proposed Parking Regulations for Jensen
Ave.
Dear Mayor and Members of the Ames City Council
I am writing to express my opposition to changing the parking regulations along Jensen Avenue as
currently proposed. Prohibiting parking along one side of the street seems to be a very drastic first
step, especially when current city codes haven't been utilized to attempt to solve the problem. I've
included this information in my message to Mr. Pregitzer below and hope that you will consider other
options and the fact that eliminating parking on one side of the street will not solve the parking
problems on Jensen Avenue, but will instead spread them further down the street.
Thank you for your time.
Tera Lawson
2103 Jensen Avenue
Tera Lawson
Center for Technology in
Learning and Teaching
Iowa State University
N108 Lagomarcino Hall
Ames, IA 50011-3194
(515) 294-7280
FAX (515) 294-6206
From: Lawson,Tera J [CTLT]
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2010 3:16 PM
To: 'dpregitzer@city.ames.ia.us'
Subject: Proposed Parking Regulations for Jensen Ave.
Dear Mr. Pregitzer
I am writing to express my desire to be a part of this decision making process. I am adamantly opposed
to the proposed changes to the parking regulations along Jensen Avenue as outlined in your letter.
I believe that the parking problem on Jensen Avenue could be alleviated if the city implemented and
enforced one of the many current city codes. The code to which I am referring is the one that requires
vehicles, which are parked on a city street, must be moved every 48 hours or the vehicle is considered
abandoned and will be towed. If this current city code was enforced, even a couple of times, the
parking problem that occurs on Jensen Avenue would very quickly be alleviated without the need to
inconvenience all of the home owners on Jensen Avenue or spread the current problem all the way
r` % ,
down the street.
The problem in the winter with the parking on Jensen Avenue is admittedly much worse, because the
snow cannot be cleared from the streets causing the street to become narrower and narrower.
However, this one street is not the only place within the city where this occurs. The city could alleviate
this problem on Jensen Avenue and throughout the city, not only by implementing and enforcing the 48
hour coded described above, but by also issuing and enforcing a city wide snow ordinance where cars
must be removed from the streets until the streets are plowed. Many cities both larger and smaller
than Ames already have such ordinances.
You also state in your letter that this change would then be consistent with the parking regulations on
th
Jensen Avenue North of 24 street. While this is a true statement, you are comparing apples to
oranges. The area North of 24th street is zoned very differently than the area South of 24th street.
South of 24 h(where we live) is a Residential Low Density Zone while the area North of 24 h street is
zoned both Neighborhood Commercial Zone and Residential High Density Zone. I believe that the
reason for different zones within the city is so that the regulations and codes for each zone can reflect
and complement the primary activities of that zone. That being said, the application of a code that is
present in a neighborhood commercial zone and a residential high density zone to a residential low
density zone for consistency is not only illogical, but seems to defy the purpose of zoning within the city.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing what the next steps in the process are.
Te ra
Tera Lawson
Center for Technology in
Learning and Teaching
Iowa State University
N108 Lagomarcino Hall
Ames, IA 50011-3194
(515) 294-7280
FAX (515) 294-6206