AGENDA #4f
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration of No Parking Anytime Except by Residential Permit on Coker Drive between Laurel Hill Road and Woodbine Road
DATE: February 13, 2006
PURPOSE
The following information responds to a request from the Police Department regarding prohibition of on-street parking on both sides of Coker Drive between Laurel Hill Road and Woodbine Drive. Please refer to the attached area map (Attachment 1).
The attached ordinance would establish “no parking anytime except by residential permit” on both sides of Coker Drive between Laurel Hill Road and Woodbine Drive.
We recommend enactment of the attached ordinance.
The Town Police Department requested prohibition of on-street parking on both sides of Coker Drive between Laurel Hill Road and Woodbine Drive. The request is based on the following observations:
· University visitors and students regularly park on Coker Drive between Laurel Hill Road and Woodbine Road during ball games/special events.
· Two-way travel is restricted when vehicles are parked on both sides of Coker Drive
Coker Drive is paved 22 feet wide with no curb-and-gutter or sidewalks. The posted speed limit is 25 mph and vehicles are permitted to park on both sides of Coker Drive under the current parking regulations.
We monitored Coker Drive on different days at different times, and observed a significant number of cars parked on both sides of Coker Drive during University events. Many drivers parked their cars and then departed on foot across Fordham Boulevard to the University. In some instances, the on-street parking resulted in restricted travel lanes and limited parking availability for residents.
We surveyed all residents/property owners on this portion of Coker Drive and solicited comments regarding the requested change in on-street parking regulations. We mailed 20 survey forms and 13 responses were returned to us. Based on the survey results, a majority of residents preferred to establish parking by residential permit only.
Based on the survey results, our field observations, and discussion with the Police Department, we recommend establishing “no parking anytime except by residential permit” on Coker Drive between Laurel Hill Road and Woodbine Drive. We think that the parking by permit would allow residents and their guests to park on the street and would eliminate the problem of University visitors parking on Coker Drive. We think that on-street parking by permit would not create conditions that would significantly restrict the travel lanes on Coker Drive.
If the Council enacts the attached ordinance, Town staff would install the appropriate parking regulation signs and would provide parking enforcement activities in the area.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The Manager recommends enactment of the attached ordinance that would establish “no parking anytime except by residential permit” on both sides of Coker Drive between Laurel Hill Road and Woodbine Drive.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Area Map (p. 4).
