A proposed preferential parking district on the streets surrounding the business district and the Palisades Recreation Center will be discussed at the Community Council meeting on Thursday, July 22 at 7 p.m. in the Branch Library’s community room, 861 Alma Real. Emilie Baradi, a transportation engineer with the L.A. Department of Transportation, will speak about the proposal by residents whose on-street parking has been diminished by spillover from the Palisades business district and activities at the park. Last December, these residents requested applications for preferential parking for the following streets: * Carthage between Swarthmore and Via de la Paz. Residents are applying to be exempt from the existing two-hour parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, plus no parking from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., except by permit. * Radcliffe between Haverford and Bowdoin, two-hour parking 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except by permit. * Alma Real between Toyopa and Frontera, two-hour parking 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except by permit. * Monument between Albright and Bestor, two-hour parking 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except by permit. If approved, the boundaries for the preferential parking district will extend at least two blocks beyond the areas that have requested it. Now that the proposed district has met DOT criteria, the DOT will seek input from Cindy Miscikowski’s City Council office and will solicit feedback from the community before approving the establishment of this district. ‘The Community Council meeting is prior to the public hearing,’ said Monique Ford, field deputy for Miscikowski’s West L.A. office. ‘The DOT would like to get a consensus from community leaders.’ Depending on the response, DOT may rectify issues or, if there is strong opposition, they may not go forward. Otherwise, a public hearing will be set, at which time affected businesses and residents of the district (within 300 feet) will have an opportunity for comment. Jack Allen, the Community Council’s advisor on governmental affairs, has sent a report on the preferential parking issue to council members, detailing his opposition. ‘Once it’s allowed, it spreads like chicken pox and neighbors can’t immunize themselves against it,’ he argues. ‘Sure, all those parkers who clog up their streets now will be gone but residents must purchase permits if any vehicles are to be parked on the street.’ ‘The first problem to be solved,’ Allen says, ‘is the critical shortage of parking in the Village and at the Palisades Recreation Center.’ Council chairman Norman Kulla told the Palisadian-Post: ‘Jack’s memo certainly persuaded me to be cautious about preferential parking approaches. It has untoward affects and can make things worse. We have a huge problem already with respect to lack of parking. ‘On the other hand, the homeowners who have people parking in front of their homes have genuine concerns.’
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