AGENDA #4e
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to a Petition from the Greenways Commission Requesting Restrictions on Long-Term Parking on Bolinwood Drive near Bolin Creek Trail
DATE: April 26, 2 004
This report responds to a petition submitted by the Greenways Commission requesting restrictions on long-term parking on Bolinwood Drive near Bolin Creek Trail. Attachment 1 is a copy of the petition.
We recommend enactment of the attached ordinance that would establish a 2-hour time limit for parking between the hours of 6:00am and 7:00pm, Monday through Friday, on the east side of Bolinwood Drive.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
At its January 12, 2004 meeting, the Town Council received and referred a petition from the Greenways Commission requesting restrictions on long-term parking on Bolinwood Drive near Bolin Creek Trail. The Commission expressed the following concerns in its petition:
· Cars are sometimes parked on Bolinwood Drive near the trail for several days at a time, and
· The on-street storage of vehicles (long-term parking) results in reduced parking availability for people wishing to access the trail at this location.
Under current parking regulations, on-street parking is prohibited at all times along the west side of Bolinwood Drive. On-street parking is regulated along the east side of Bolinwood Drive as follows:
· Parking by residential permit only is allowed near Winding Ridge neighborhood at the northern end of Bolinwood Drive; and
· Parking is prohibited at all times in the vicinity of driveway and street intersections with Bolinwood Drive.
Attachment 2 is an area map showing the details of existing parking regulations on Bolinwood Drive.
We conducted field observations at various times including evening and early morning hours on different days. We observed that available on-street parking on Bolinwood Drive near the trail is often completely occupied. We also noted that several vehicles were parked on Bolinwood Drive near the trail for more than 24 hours at a time. Residents wishing to access the trail from Bolinwood Drive often cannot find an available parking space.
We think that establishing a two-hour time limit on weekdays near the trail would reduce the long-term parking by UNC commuters and provide more parking to the trail users.
We believe that establishing a two-hour time limit for parking between the hours of 6:00am to 7:00pm, Monday through Friday, on the east side of Bolinwood Drive in the vicinity of the greenway trail would reduce the number of vehicles using this street for long-term parking and would provide more parking spaces for trail users during operating hours.
If approved, we will add a supplemental plate to the 2-hour time limit signs indicating “Parking for Trail Users Only.” We will also implement periodic enforcement of the parking time restrictions utilizing staff from the Town’s Parking Services Division.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council enact the attached ordinance that would establish a 2-hour time limit for parking between the hours of 6:00am to 7:00pm, Monday through Friday, on the east side of Bolinwood Drive for approximately 190 feet in the vicinity of the greenway trail.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Petition (p. 4).
2. Area Map (p. 5).
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING (2004-04-26/ O-1)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-27.2.4 of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Parking Time Limits”, is hereby amended by adding the following:
“(c) 2-hours, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Street Side From To
Bolinwood Drive East A point 495 feet north of A point 685 feet north of
Hillsborough Street Hillsborough Street”
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective May 26, 2004.
This the 26th day of April, 2004.