AGENDA #4e
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM : W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration of On-Street Parking Restrictions on Carver Street
DATE: November 11 , 2002
The following report is in response to a petition submitted by Ms. Estelle Mabry requesting that the Town Council consider implementing parking restrictions on Carver Street. Please refer to the attached map (Attachment #1).
The attached Ordinance A would establish “No Parking Anytime” regulations on the west side of Carver Street from McMasters Street to its dead end. We recommend adoption of Ordinance A.
The attached Ordinance B would establish “No Parking Anytime Except by Residential Permit” on the east side of Carver Street. We do not recommend adoption of Ordinance B.
At its May 13, 2002 meeting, the Council received a petition from Ms. Estelle Mabry and Mr. R. D. Smith requesting actions to preserve the character of the Northside Neighborhood. The petition included a request that parking restrictions be considered on Carver Street.
Carver Street is a 22-foot wide paved dead-end street approximately 475 feet in length. Currently, on-street parking is permitted at all times along the entire length on both sides of the street. The posted speed limit on Carver Street is 25 mph.
DISCUSSION
We conducted field observations at various times on different days. We noted that available on-street parking was often completely occupied on the east side of Carver Street, with significantly fewer vehicles parking on the west side of the street. We also noted that traffic congestion and constricted travel lane widths occurred when cars were parked on both sides of the street.
We prepared the attached survey form (Attachment #2) describing possible parking restrictions on Carver Street, including ”No Parking Anytime Except by Residential Permit”, and solicited comments from the area residents. We distributed 13 survey forms to the residents on Carver Street and 6 were returned. Of those returned, one respondent supported and five were opposed to changes in current parking regulations on Carver Street. The owner of the several apartments on Carver Street expressed a concern that most of his tenants are students and turnover is high; therefore, use of residential parking permits would be cumbersome.
Based on our observations, and response to the neighborhood survey, we believe that restricting on-street parking on the west side of Carver Street to “No Parking Anytime” would reduce traffic congestion and improve traffic safety conditions on Carver Street while leaving on-street parking available on the east side of the street for residents’ use. We also believe that the proposed “No Parking Anytime” would address the concerns raised by Ms. Mabry.
The Manager recommends that the Council enact the attached Ordinance “A” that would establish “No Parking Anytime” on the west side of Carver Street.
If Council wishes to establish “No Parking Anytime Except by Residential Permit” on the east side of Carver Street, enactment of Ordinance “B” would do so.
1. Carver Street Vicinity Map (p. 5).
2. Resident Survey Form (p. 6).
ORDINANCE A
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING ON-STREET PARKING (2002-11-11/O-2a)
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
Carver Street West McMasters Street End”
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective December 9, 2002.
This the 11th day of November, 2002.
ORDINANCE B
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING ON-STREET PARKING (2002-11-11/O-2b)
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
Carver Street West McMasters Street End”
Section 2. Section 21-27.8 of the Town Code of Ordinances, “No Parking Anytime Except by Residential Permit.” is hereby amended by adding the following in appropriate alphabetical order:
“Street Side From To
Carver Street East McMasters Street End”
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective December 9, 2002.
This the 11h day of November, 2002.