Update 3/11/10: Some of the questions that I raise in the following blog post have since been answered by a representative of the Engleton Neighborhood Group. You can read the response in the comments. However, several concerns still remain that I hope city council addresses at this evening’s meeting.
In case you haven’t heard, Harrisburg City Council is considering expanding the Paxtang Manor permit parking zone in Midtown. There is a hearing scheduled for it on March 11 at 5:05.
While I have not read the exact text of this ordinance, it is being advertised as the following:
Bill 3-2010 – An Ordinance amending Chapter 3-139 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Harrisburg to extend and define the boundaries of the “Paxtang Manor Zone,” and to designate as Residential Permit Parking only the following streets:
N. Third Street from Clinton to Harris,
Harris Street from N. Third to Green Street,
Green Street from Harris to Reily Street,
Reily Street from N. Third to Second Street,
Penn Street from Reily to Harris Street,
Susquehanna Street from Calder to Reily Street,
Green Street from Granite to Kelker Street,
1300 Block of Susquehanna Street,
1300 and 1400 Blocks of Front Street,
100 Block of Calder Street, and
1300 Block of Green Street.
Bill 8-2010 regarding enforcement of metered parking in residential permit parking zones.
Whether your exact address is included in this new zone or not, I encourage you to consider how this will effect our neighborhood, as it will change parking dynamics for everyone.
To help us become informed, I have plotted all of these addresses on a map with the existing permit parking zones. (Note: I developed this map by biking around the neighborhood and recording where there are actual permit parking signs. Although I called City Hall asking for this information, I was not able to receive it. The unidentified woman in the Parking Enforcement section was rude, and led me in a Catch-22 conversation to describe why she couldn’t give me the information that I requested)
The map is attached or can be viewed at this website:
http://www.scribblemaps.com/maps/view/HBGPaxtangManor
It it my belief that this is seriously flawed. Perhaps I’m missing something, but based on the advertised information I see several problems. In general, I am not opposed to permit parking; however, I oppose this ordinance in my current understanding of it. Here’s why:
- The proposed zone is not even close to contiguous. It contains four unconnected sections of road, including Green Street from Granite to Kelker Street. This block is three blocks away from the rest of the zone, and it is not close to any notable commercial areas. Why was it included?
- The proposed zone includes two blocks of Reily Street which have many commercial and educational establishments that are open to the public. I do not think it is in the best interest of neighborhood revitalization to restrict public parking in front of these establishments. In particular, the section of Reily Street from Green to Third has only three residences, two of which also border other streets. This block also has approximately 25 on-street parking spaces. It seems absurd to make all of these spaces permit parking when the bulk of activity on the block is public. Furthermore, several of the properties on this block are zoned for commercial and institutional purposes in both the existing and proposed zoning code. This ordinance would place permit parking in front of commercially zoned properties.
- Two blocks of Front Street are included in the proposed zone. These blocks currently have no on-street parking at all. Is it the intention of this ordinance to allow on-street permit parking on Front Street for these blocks? If not, what is the purpose of including them in the ordinance?
- The 100 Block of Calder Street and the 1300 Block of Green Street are included in the proposed zone. However, these blocks are already marked on the street as being part of the Paxtang Manor permit zone. If they are part of the existing zone, why are they being included in this ordinance? If they are not already officially permit parking, then why are there signs on the street?
In conclusion, ask yourself, “Why were these blocks in particular chosen? What benefit will come from having these blocks designated while neighboring blocks remain permit free? Who is in support of this measure, and what is their motive? Will this make our neighborhood a more attractive place to live, work, shop, and play?”
If it is City Council’s intent to pass this, I hope that they give some good answers to these questions first.
While I have more to say about permit parking, in the name of brevity, I’ll stop for now…
I wish I had scrolled down to see the map earlier. I had Google Maps open separately, trying to follow the non-pattern of streets selected. Your map made it much better, especially with the other zones.
I think the 1300 block of Susquehanna Street is also no parking right now. I walk down there frequently and only recall seeing people in cars waiting for someone to come out of Al’s bar.
I agree with pretty much everything you wrote. I think it would be reasonable to have permit-only parking all the way up to Kelker, excluding Second, Third, and Reily streets.
Thanks for the post. Usually when I see a permit-parking proposal, I just look at a few of the streets to generally understand what’s going on and then say “Well, that seems a reasonable place to require permit parking.” Now I’ll have to look at these more carefully.
One more thing: the 1200 block of Susquehanna Street (between Verbeke and Cumberland) should be teal.
I can answer some of your questions since I’ve been involved in part of this permit parking initiative with Engleton Community Group (ECG).
I’d like to clarify that personally, I don’t feel one way or the other to parts of this proposed Bill. I say “parts” because ECG submitted only the streets within Engleton:
N. Third Street from Clinton to Harris,
Harris Street from N. Third to Green Street,
Green Street from Harris to Reily Street,
Reily Street from N. Third to Second Street,
Penn Street from Reily to Harris Street,
Susquehanna Street from Calder to Reily Street (we submitted this at the request of a resident on this street who fulfilled the petition requirements)
Green Street from Granite to Kelker Street
**please note that residents on Susquehanna from Reily to Clinton will be able to purchase permits for this Zone as well**
As an ECG planner, I was the representative charged with the task of organizing this based on the demands of many residents in the immediate vicinity of HACC Midtown. With the arrival of HACC in 2007, street parking has become more and more of an issue with a majority of residents feeling this was the best way to combat that issue. Although students have multiple gated lots, residents are still competing with students who do not use them. This truly is a problem for residents on parts of Reily, Green, Harris and 3rd Sts, not to mention the residents on Susquehanna who do not have street parking. In the evenings, it’s a mess.
Beginning in 2007, the City hosted two meetings on parking and traffic complaints regarding HACC Midtown. After these mtgs., residents felt the logical next step was to establish permit parking. Thus, based on the demand of many residents in our neighborhood, ECG got involved and had two more public meetings on permit parking. These meetings included City reps.–Dan Leppo, Helen Solivan, and Capt. Pickles.
So that hopefully clarifies the motivation behind certain parts of this Bill.
That being said, here’s how the process works and how blocks/streets are “chosen.” The City does not designate the areas of permit parking. Permit parking is a resident-driven initiative.
Step 1: Residents must submit a petition to the City requesting permit parking outlining certain hours. That petition of support must have at least 80% of the signatures of the residents in a proposed “area.”
Step 2: A feasibility study is conducted in the proposed area by the police department and then presented to the law bureau.
Step 3: The proposal is introduced to Council who sends it to the Public Safety Committee in the form of a Bill (this is the process is at now)
Step 4: The Public Safety Committee discusses the Bill and hears public input. If necessary adjustments are made, I believe.
Step 5: The Bill is sent to Council for vote.
Step 6: Implementation of permit parking.
Permit parking runs M-F, and the hours we proposed are 4-9 p.m. When we submitted the petitions in August, we were told that a new Zone would be developed called Midtown II. And while we were told that we would be grouped with other petitions south of Reily, we were surprised to see the Bill call for an extension of the Paxtang Manor Zone.
You are absolutely correct about your analysis of Reily St. Residents on Reily St. attempted to account for this by wanting only the “residential parts” of Reily permitted. However, this somehow got lost. This is something that will hopefully be cleared up tomorrow at the Committee meeting. I know certain business owners who signed the petition are now very concerned about this based on the points you made. I believe they will be attending to voice their concern.
You are also correct about the disconnect of the Green St. from Granite to Kelker. Keep in mind that ECG encouraged all streets/blocks in Engleton to consider submitting a petition. There were lengthy and numerous discussions about the pros and cons of permit parking in Engleton. As you can see, the desire basically is in the immediate vicinity of HACC. We did receive a petition from the Green St. area, but I was entirely surprised this request made it past the feasibility study. Again, I anticipate this will be something addressed tomorrow night.
I’d like to reiterate that I have no idea about the other streets/blocks in this Bill. I’m very curious about the hours. The hours should be posted on this proposed Bill, especially since I’m not quite sure what Paxtang Manor Zone already calls for. ECG specifically submitted a proposal for evening hours.
We’ve sent out multiple notices to our email list announcing tomorrow’s meeting, the latest this afternoon. This has been a big project for ECG, spanning years. There are pros and cons to permit parking. But this is a very democratic process, entirely resident-driven. So, indeed, residents should make it out to tomorrow’s meeting whether in support or opposition.
Hope that helps!
Tara
Both sides of Capital Street are now posted Zone 2 permit parking from 8am to 3pm and 4pm to 6pm. If the residents are strickly having parking issues in the evening, is there some way to change the postings to eliminate the 8am to 3pm restriction?
Shawn,
You may be right about the permit parking on Susquehanna. Like I said, this was put together by me walking around. If I get a chance I’ll check that spot out also.
Actually, I live right at that intersection, so I’m certain it’s permit-only. I don’t know about Susquehanna between Cumberland and Herr, but I think it’s no parking (though often people park at the garage under the apartment on the southeast corner and rev the engine for hours on end).
I talked this evening to some people who live on Reilly Street and actually agree that it should be non-permit because businesses need access. They said they wouldn’t mind finding a spot on Penn Street and walking around the corner.
Tara,
That helps a lot! Sure wish the woman on the phone told me that yesterday.
Ultimately, the bit I am most perplexed about is putting permit parking on Front Street???
I plan to attend tomorrow night’s meeting. The announcement I got for it didn’t list a location. I assume it is somewhere in the city government center…
No problem, Josh….I’ve been dealing with this for so long now. You should see the emails ECG has gotten! Plus, some of those meetings got quite intense.
The Public Safety Committee meeting will be held in Council Chambers.
See you there!
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Also posted this on Pennlive:
I noticed last weekend that new signs for permit parking have gone up on Capitol St. It is only on the side of the New Fox Ridge development, not on Cumberland Court’s side. This parking was traditionally used by State workers and was empty by 4:00. It is now permit zone 2 parking. I have seen non-permitted cars parking there this week, but no tickets as of yet. I noticed on your map you included it, however this is a very recent development.
I would disagree that HACC students are the source of the street parking increase. The greater number of people taking up parking in this area are people who work downtown who were attracted to the area as a park and walk location by the addition of HACC. And if HACC is the problem why is the solution to create a cost to residents with permit parking. City Council should find a way to get some funding out of the people who come here to work only and spend their money in their community. I live in this area and HACC’s presence has done great things for the neighborhood. If the exchange for that is some parking woes I’m willing to live with that versus one more bill I have to pay when every local state and federal government, utility provider and anyone else providing a customer service is getting a bigger chunk of my income. Having to walk a few blocks to my door every once in a while is worth the removal of the growing shanty town off Reily, razing of buildings being used by drug dealers and squatters, presence of people there to do something other than commit crime, trash remediation, the addition of sidewalks, the trees, flowers, shrubs, and the presence of security in the vicinity of their campus and thus our neighborhood.
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