HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/18/2010 03C-1 Citizen Service Request Response RE: Chestnut Manor Parking Policy C - 1
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Yakima City Council
Dick Zais, City Manager
FROM: Dave Zabell, Assistant City Manager - '
SUBJECT: Parking near Chestnut Manor Apartments
DATE: May 13, 2010
As you are aware, based on recommendations of the Parking Commission and testimony
received last year regarding the proposed changes to parking in the downtown core area, the
City Council adopted several amendments to the parking ordinance. Roll out of the
implementation included a public information campaign and delayed the effective date of
enforcement for several months. Numerous businesses, entities, residential projects within the
• downtown core and the general public have been impacted by changes included in the
ordinance. Specifically the ordinance changed allowable hours of parking on several streets in
most cases shortening the time allowed.
Residents residing at Chestnut Manor communicated early with the City Council as to their
dissatisfaction with respect to the change in on street parking on the street abutting their
building. Some of the residents have testified to the City Council that they have difficulty
walking to and from an offsite parking facility or a distant parking spot. There are two handicap
stalls in front of the complex at present. Chestnut Manor was approved without the
requirement to provide off -site parking for its residents.
Staff members have been working with representatives of the property and the Parking
Commission to develop a solution. As part of that effort, Streets Manager Joe Rosenlund and
Public Works Director Chris Waarvick briefed the Parking Commission on the concept of
creating multiple ADA compliant handicap parking stalls on the east side of 4 Street in January
of this year. The adjacent property owner expressed concerns that the proposal would have an
adverse impact on his property. Streets Manager Rosenlund has since reviewed other
alternatives that could potentially satisfy both the residents and the adjacent property owner.
After reviewing some possible alternatives, it was decided there really was no alternative that
could meet this objective. Any feasible change to parking would be at the expense of the
adjacent property.
As this issue has been ongoing, Director Waarvick attended the April 14, 2010 Committee for
Downtown Yakima meeting in which this issue and the Parking Commission's recommendation
was to be discussed. Director Waarvick reported that the City is not able to resolve this issue
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with changes in on- street parking without impacting the adjacent property owner and suggested
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that the apartment manager work with the residents to resolve the limited parking problem that
exists. CDY concurred with Waarvick's assessment. ..
The Parking Commission does not support the change in parking as it eliminates valuable spots
in the downtown core and adversely impacts one property for the benefit of another. The
Commission has communicated that there are ample private parking options near the Chestnut
Manor facility and that the owner has a responsibility to properly manage his property rather
than shifting the problem to the City and other property owners in the downtown core.
Parking Commission Chair Person Larry Hull has been invited to the City Council meeting on
May 18, 2010 to address any questions the Council may have of the Commission.
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