AGENDA #3a(1)
MARGARET F. McCANN
Fax: (919) 419-9119
E-mail: [email protected]
TO: Chapel Hill Town Council
FROM: Margaret F. McCann
SUBJECT: Petition regarding no-parking sign ordinance
DATE: October 24, 2007
I would like to suggest a couple of changes to Article XIX. Pre-Towing Notice on Private Lots and to raise several questions. These concerns arise from an unfortunate incident I had recently at the Panera Bread restaurant, as detailed in the attached letters and photos.
My suggested additions to the sign ordinance are:
(1) If there are multiple situations in which parking is not permitted, these situations must all be presented in the same manner (same size lettering, same background, etc.). (In the current sign, what is most obvious is that during business hours parking is permitted for 90 minutes for customers only. Although the sign also states that parking is not permitted after business hours, this information is in a much smaller font.)
(2) Additional signs must be placed where drivers can see them after they are parked. (It’s impossible to read the entire sign while turning in from busy Franklin Street.)
And my questions are as follows:
(1) How is the current ordinance being enforced? Although the Panera Bread signs appear to meet the requirements in terms of size of lettering, they are in violation because the sign is much closer to the ground than the stipulated “not less than six (6) feet.”
(2) How could the sentence regarding response time be enforced? How would a citizen know that there is a time period within which the car should be released, and to whom could s/he appeal if that time period is exceeded? And what should be the time period if multiple cars are involved? (In our case, one car was returned to us in 20 minutes but the second took 40 minutes.)
(3) Can the Council stipulate additional details, such as requiring booting rather than towing, and specifying the amounts that can be charged? If so, I would encourage you to do so.
Thank you for your consideration.