AGENDA #4d
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed On-Street Parking Restrictions on the West Side of South Columbia Street near Purefoy Road
DATE: February 14, 2005
Enacting the attached ordinance would establish “No Parking Anytime” regulations on the right-of-way along the west side of South Columbia Street near Purefoy Road and across from Merritt’s Store.
We recommend that the Council enact the attached ordinance.
The Town Engineering Department has received numerous complaints that vehicles have been parked on the right-of-way along the west side of South Columbia Street near Purefoy Road and across from Merritt’s Store. Please refer to the attached area map (Attachment 1). Complaints typically regard cars parked adjacent to the southbound travel lane of South Columbia Street on the shoulder area along the edge of the pavement. This parking creates sight distance problems for drivers and sometimes interferes with a nearby bus pull-off.
Town and State staff reviewed the situation and confirmed that vehicles are often parked on State road right-of-way along the edge of South Columbia Street in this vicinity. The State does not allow parking, other than for emergencies, on its road rights-of-way.
Town staff advised the manager of Merritt’s Store that parking on State rights-of-way was illegal. The Merritt’s Store Manager was further advised of the differentiation between the private property across from the store (where parking is allowed) and the State road right-of-way (where parking is not allowed).
In the past, when similar problems have occurred involving State rights-of-way within the Town limits, the State has concurred with the adoption of local regulations and the installation of signs restricting parking on segments of State rights-of-way where problems are identified. We discussed the current situation with State staff, and they agreed that parking restrictions on this segment of State right-of-way could be implemented and enforced by the Town. Enactment of the attached ordinance and associated “No Parking Anytime” regulations would allow the Town to install the necessary signs and to enforce the “No Parking Anytime” regulations by means of ticketing and/or towing.
That the Council enact the attached ordinance that would establish “No Parking Anytime” regulations on the State right-of-way along the west side of South Columbia Street near Purefoy Road and across from Merritt’s Store, as shown on the attached map.
1. Area Map (p. 4).
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING ON-STREET PARKING (2005-02-14/O-1)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-27 of the Town Code of Ordinances, “No parking as to particular streets.” is hereby amended by adding the following in appropriate alphabetical order:
“Street Side From To
South Columbia Street West Fordham Boulevard A Point 530 feet
North Ramp north of Fordham
Boulevard North Ramp”
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective February 15, 2005.
This the 14th day of February, 2005.