THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 8, 1994 TAG: 9408080063
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLISE LYLES, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Some resort area residents are angry that the City Council has given them less than four days to respond to its plans to vote Tuesday on a proposed parking ordinance.
The proposal would expand the Residential Parking Permit Program to include all resort area neighborhoods, requiring all residents to pay $15 per car. Visitor parking also would be restricted three hours earlier, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The only notification some residents received was a doorknob card urging them to dial the ``Beach-Line'' voice mail system to register their opinions.
The cards said that input was needed before 1 p.m. today, or responses would not be included in the survey.
The colorful door-hangers encased in plastic wrap were delivered Thursday and Friday.
Brenda McCormack of the 400 block of 16th Street said she practically stumbled upon the notification Saturday morning. ``My son brought it in to me and said, `What's this, Mom?' ''
McCormack and other residents accuse the council of attempting to ramrod tighter parking restrictions that will further inconvenience them.
``Labor Day weekend is coming up, concerts are coming up and they are scared and worried about trouble,'' McCormack said. On Sunday, residents drifted into her yard to sign a petition protesting the proposed restrictions.
``So the council wants to rush this thing through so they don't have to worry about it,'' she said. `` But it is a huge hassle for those who live here. When we have visitors or guests we'll have to ask them to leave even earlier now.''
City Manager James K. Spore said anticipation of Labor Day had little to do with the proposed restrictions. After receiving complaints from residents about the July Fourth weekend, the city moved quickly to improve traffic management, he said.
``In order to give council time to act on this this summer, we had to go on a very short notice.''
Spore added that this is the first time the city has used the phone-in method for public comment.
In resort neighborhoods where 51 percent of residents petitioned to join the Residential Parking Permit Program, signs currently restrict on-street parking from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. for vehicles without decals.
If the proposal is approved, all residential streets from Arctic to Parks avenues on the east and west, and Laskin Road to Southern Boulevard on the north and south would be included, Spore said.
At present, residents pay $15 for an annual permit. Their visitors must buy temporary permits from the city treasurer's office or risk ticketing by an infamously aggressive meter patrol.
In the newly included areas, residents would receive a free decal for the remainder of this year, Spore said.
City Councilwoman Louisa M. Strayhorne said that over the weekend she received about five telephone calls from residents. A few had just learned about the proposal, and others seemed to know, but wanted details, she said.
On Sunday, fliers circulated through McCormack's neighborhood urged residents to discuss the parking regulations at the Lakeview Civic League meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday at W.T. Cooke Elementary School on 15th Street.
``We want to know how you feel,'' said the door-hanger sent out by the city.
Residents want to know why they weren't informed earlier. ``To tell you the truth, I didn't know about it,'' said Melissa Stevens of the 600 block of 16th Street.
``I didn't get a card in the mail that I know about,'' Stevens said. ``We have a two-car driveway and four cars at our house. When we have unexpected visitors they have nowhere to go. It's a real pain.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color graphic
Vote Today
[Virginia Beach residential parking]
For copy of graphic, see microfilm
KEYWORDS: PARKING VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL
by CNB