We had a good initial conversation with Amanda Ford on Thursday. We will continue the conversation in April at the WPCCA Monthly Meeting on April 26 at 6:30. There will be food and child care.
To learn more about the Proposed Short North Parking Pilot Program, please also attend one of the upcoming events (listed below). These are opportunities to learn more about the parking proposal and provide feedback.
- March 22, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.: Councilmember Shannon Hardin will convene the Public Service and Transportation Committee for a public hearing in Columbus City Council Chambers. Public Service will provide a complete overview of the proposal. Those wishing to comment at the hearing will need to complete a speaker slip and will have three minutes to speak on the proposal.
- There are three open houses scheduled at this time. This will be an opportunity to talk with city staff, working group members and neighbors about the proposal and provide feedback.
- Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the Goodale Park Shelterhouse.
- Tuesday, April 4, 2017 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm in the Junior Achievement Gym, 68 E. 2nd Ave.
- Wednesday, April 12, 2017 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the King Avenue United Methodist Church, 299 King Ave
This will directly affect anyone in WP who lives between East 5th and East 7th avenues, as well as those of us who live in the immediately adjacent blocks — which will become the “free” parking right next to metered/permitted areas.
Key elements from neighborhood conversation on March 16:
- we think the plan must cover up to 11th Ave, or all of WP, as it’s odd the zones don’t correspond to neighborhood boundaries, which would simplify maps and understanding where permits allow you park, also failing to cover to 11th will leave most of Weinland Park vulnerable to visitor parking. We all stick together.
- this plan has no impact on off-street parking
- this plan has no requirement to buy permits if you don’t have a car (only 17% of WP has a car)
- We favor reducing car ownership and increasing pedestrian, cycling & walkability
- We suggest using Gateway & Convention Center parking for park & ride – I personally add that it would be cool to see COTA with OSU and the city to acquire CABS and combine services to heighten transit service connecting our area in the short north with downtown and campus
- We support a fee waiver for qualified applicants with simplified documentation like SNAP, TANF, etc
- partnering with CRIS, CPO & others to get recommendations on services to minimize impact on immigrants & refugees
- support for Benefit District concept to funnel funds back to area to support transit initiatives, parking signage and enforcement fir area (funds will not go to general fund or spend outside area)
- importance of public engagement throughout the Pilot and implementation phase to keep resident perspective at fore
Attending the open houses and April 26 Weinland Park Community Civic Association meeting to learn more and provide more feedback will be very important given the initial limited scope of the study and inability of the study to keep pace with development and pressures on parking
Your voice in this matters. Initiatives like this pilot study do not come from the city frequently and as a pilot there are opportunities to tweak the solution as we go.
There are many developments coming Weinland Park that will increase density. So. Even if you are not experiencing more cars on the street than we used to, you will.
This plan seems like a solid start, but we need you to make it better for our neighbors.
Learn more:
https://www.columbus.gov/…/proposed-short-north-pilot-prog…/
*** Additional note on permits and guest passes:
If I correctly understand it, each household may purchase a maximum of 2 residence passes. Each household gets 2 visitor passes for street parking. This does not impact off street parking. No one is required to get a permit, if they do not have a car or use only off street parking.
Short term visitors have 3 hours on street parking. No pass needed.
Meters must be observed, but that’s not new.
Street parking with no permits or restrictions are vulnerable to parking pressures from OSU, Short North and Fairgrounds parking. As safety concerns ease, more people are comfortable parking in WP.
*** Additional note on CampusParc:
When OSU sold their parking management to CampusParc, the agreement forbid OSU from doing anything that would reduce the number of cars trying to park in or around campus. No transit promotions, subsidies, or anything else for employees, students, or contractors.