Councilwoman Valerie Ervin responds to parking meter problem

Dear County residents,

I have received your correspondence regarding the increasing parking hours. As a Silver Spring resident and the Council’s representative for District 5, I believe that these increases will have a significant impact on the re-development of Downtown Silver Spring and Wheaton. In addition, these new hours will increase the cost of living to apartment dwellers and condominium owners who utilize on-street parking after returning from work.

Tomorrow, July 3, I will ask for the Council to revisit this issue by introducing a resolution, which will revert the parking hours to those that existed in fiscal year 2007.

Attached please find my memorandum to the Council President outlining my concerns.

Sincerely,

Valerie Ervin, Councilmember
District 5, Montgomery County Council
Council Office Building
100 Maryland Ave 6th Floor
Rockville, MD 20850

240-777-7960

Coun...@montgomerycountymd.gov

Memorandum

To: Marilyn Praisner, Council President
Nancy Floreen, Chair, T&E Committee
George Leventhal

From: Valerie Ervin

Date: July 2, 2007

Subject: Concerns regarding extended parking hours

As you know, on May 16, 2007 the Council adopted Resolution 16-140, which was approved by the County Executive, extending the parking hours that require payment in Bethesda, Montgomery Hills, North Bethesda, Wheaton, and Silver Spring. My office has received more than 500 calls and emails from County residents and business owners who are upset with the County’s decision.

This change is especially challenging in Downtown Silver Spring, where the extended parking hours will require patrons to pay for on-street, surface lot, and garage parking[i] on weekday nights and Saturdays, while the large Ellsworth Drive and Wayne Avenue garages (60 & 61), in the downtown core, will remain free during these times. I am very concerned that this inequity will hurt the many new and existing small businesses and restaurants in South Silver Spring, which rely heavily on on-street and surface lot parking to serve their customers. Under this new plan, I believe that individuals will use the free garages more frequently, thus decreasing pedestrian traffic and patronage of businesses outside of the downtown core.

Because it is illegal for individuals to park at meters beyond the posted time limit, individuals having dinner and going to a movie or attending a family function or event would have to return to their vehicles in the middle of their evening activities to be in compliance with these new parking hours in all parking lot districts.

The extended parking hours also impacts small businesses in downtown Wheaton. Merchants have voiced concerns that customers will receive more parking tickets and thus will be discouraged from patronizing their establishments on nights and weekends.

Condominium and apartment residents throughout the County have written to my office regarding the new parking hours explaining that it hinders their ability to utilize on-street parking spaces after returning from work. Extending hours until 10 pm requires residents to constantly monitor their vehicles after work and increases their cost of living in our downtown neighborhoods.

Council staff estimates that reverting the parking hours to those that existed prior to passage of the resolution would mean a reduction of approximately $900,000 in revenue that would be repaid to the County’s General Fund.

I have expressed my concerns about this issue to the County Executive, and I ask for your support in revisiting this issue. Since the resolution to amend the FY 08 Transportation Fees (Agenda Item # 9, July 3, 2007) was not advertised broadly enough to take action on this issue, I will ask staff to introduce a resolution to change these hours as soon as possible.

c: Councilmembers
County Executive Isiah Leggett
Deputy Staff Director, Glenn Orlin
Senior Legislative Attorney, Michael Faden

Attachment: Resolution 16-140
Petition from Silver Spring residents and businesses

[i] The new resolution will only extend parking hours in garages on weekday nights until 10 pm.