RECOMMENDATION

Approve an ordinance establishing a residential permit parking zone in the College Park Neighborhood.

BACKGROUND

In Fall 2001, the College Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) approached the City with various traffic concerns. One of the concerns was the parking congestion present on many streets within the proximity of Bellarmine Preparatory College (Bellarmine). The Department of Transportation (DOT) conducted a parking study in March 2002. The results indicated that on many streets within the College Park Neighborhood, over 75% of the on-street parking supply was occupied during school hours, and that over 80% of the parked cars were non-residential.

ANALYSIS

The City of San Jose Residential Permit Parking (RPP) program is intended to mitigate on-street parking intrusions into neighborhoods. The criteria utilized to determine if permit parking is appropriate for a neighborhood include:

· 75% of the on-street parking capacity is utilized during peak demand

· 50% or more of the parked vehicles are from outside the neighborhood

· Permit parking zone is supported by 50% +1 of the eligible households

· The permit zone consists of a minimum of 150 households

In December 2001, the CPNA conducted a preliminary petition process to determine the level of community support for residential permit parking. Additionally, input was gathered on possible timeframes for the restricted parking to occur. Based upon this initial outreach, two (2) distinct permit zones were proposed to DOT to proceed to the formal petition process. The boundaries of the two proposed zones are shown on the attached map. Several of the streets closest to the campus are impacted evenings and weekends by sporting activities and other events occurring on campus after normal school hours. As a result, those residents have requested that parking on these streets be restricted at all times. Outlying streets are proposed to be restricted from 9am to 3pm, Monday – Friday.

During July 2002, signatures were collected from households in the proposed College Park permit zone by the CPNA block captains. For rental units or leased households, DOT mailed petition packets to the property owner. DOT also contacted each business within the proposed permit zone to ensure that there would not be a negative impact. Time restricted parking currently exists adjacent to many of these businesses, and where appropriate, will be extended to support business needs. Business owners were also notified that their employees would be eligible for parking permits if inadequate on-site parking is available at the business.

Overall, 64% of the 239 surveyed households in the College Park neighborhood support residential permit parking. However, there were some blocks where less than 50% of the households support permit parking. The attached map illustrates the results of the petition process. Some of the residents that did not vote in favor of the restricted parking are in close proximity to the Bellarmine Campus. Since it is anticipated that these blocks will be impacted if left out of the adopted permit zone, additional outreach was conducted with households on these blocks. CPNA block leaders contacted the majority of these households and explained that they may be negatively impacted by increased parking on their respective blocks, if a permit zone is approved that excludes their street. The majority of these households did not change their initial decision. However, one block did receive the required 50% + 1 support with the additional support of a non-resident property owner who had not previously voted. The proposed residential permit parking zone includes this additional block. The permit zone proposed on the attached map consists of 214 households.

Coordination has occurred with Bellarmine with regards to the proposed residential permit parking zone. Bellarmine has indicated that they desire to construct additional parking on-site to help mitigate the impact of the loss of on-street parking. For that reason, it is proposed that the residential permit parking zone become effective January 6, 2003. This will allow the school sufficient time to file planning permit applications for new parking facilities. Any additional parking is not anticipated to be completed prior to January 2003. However, the delayed implementation will enable Bellarmine to provide adequate notification to students and their parents. Notification of the pending establishment of the permit zone, along with permit application materials, will be provided to all residents, non-resident owners, businesses and community organizations upon final adoption of the permit parking ordinance by Council.

PUBLIC OUTREACH

In March 2002, DOT staff conducted a neighborhood meeting to explain the rules and regulations of the permit program and to describe the petition process. Announcements publicizing this meeting were hand delivered to each household within the anticipated permit zone. DOT has met several times with CPNA and Bellarmine representatives.

In addition, the CPNA mailed a flyer to households requesting their input on the desired timeframes for the permit zone. Four neighborhood meetings were held in April and May to discuss enforcement times. The CPNA also discussed the status of the proposed residential permit parking zone at various monthly meetings. Minutes from these monthly meetings were electronically mailed to all CPNA members.

COORDINATION

This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.

COST IMPLICATIONS

The cost of implementing the new permit zone will be absorbed within the existing resources of the Department of Transportation. The bi-annual $20 parking permit fee will accrue to the General Fund and offset any added costs.

CEQA

Exempt: PP 02-09-234

JAMES R. HELMER, Acting Director

Department of Transportation