City of Lawrence

Traffic Safety Commission Agenda

October 6, 2008-7:00 PM       

City Commission Room, City Hall

ITEM NO. 5:           Consider request to establish NO PARKING along one side of Emerald Drive.

                             Facts:

1. Emerald Drive is a “local” street in a residential area paved 25 feet wide.

2. Parking is currently prohibited along the east side of the street from November 1 to March 31.

3. It has been the practice to establish NO PARKING in areas of this type when requested and supported by adjacent property owners and/or residents; or when needed for safety reasons.

ACTION:  Provide recommendation to the City Commission.

City of Lawrence

Traffic Safety Commission

October 6, 2008 Minutes

ITEM NO. 5:

Consider request to establish NO PARKING along one side of Emerald Drive.

Woosley presented the information provided in the staff report.

Commissioner Smith asked if this was the only place where we have NO PARKING for designated periods of the year; Woosley advised that there were several streets in the

neighborhood with the same restriction.

Public comment:

Jim Haller, 2008 Emerald Drive: I’ve lived there for 25 years and I have put-up with the problem of parking on both sides of the street; there’s been times when a fire truck or ambulance could not get down our street because of the parking on both sides of the street; this evening I had a lot of trouble just backing-out of my driveway; cars were parked on both sides of my driveway and directly across the street; it’s real nice during

the basketball season and easy to get up-anddown the street; the rest of the year it is a real problem; I’ve even had to have the police tow vehicles out of my driveway.

Betty Alderson, 1920 Maine Street: I would speak in favor of this; there was an effort to do this a number of years ago, but there were a few neighbors who thought they wouldn’t have room for their Thanksgiving guests; with KU removing the privilege of freshmen last year to have permits to park on the hill and sophomores this year, there is no parking in this area during the daytime at all; I certainly would recommend that you consider this for the people on Emerald Drive.

Commissioner Woods asked which side of the street would be best; Woosley suggested the east side since that is where the current restriction is.

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked if letters were sent to both sides of the street;

Woosley advised that they were.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER

SMITH, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING NO PARKING ALONG THE EAST SIDE

OF EMERALD DRIVE; THE MOTION CARRIED (6-0).

Commissioner Heckler asked to have a representative from the Fire Department to attend the next meeting to give their perspective on NO PARKING requests of this type.