LEWISTON — The City Council will look to implement a residential parking permit system for the neighborhood surrounding Bates College, following months of discussion between neighbors and city officials regarding loud parties and safety concerns.
The permits would make it easier to enforce parking on the residential streets surrounding the college, which have grown in popularity for off-campus student housing for seniors. They would be issued to residents, making it illegal for a non-resident to park on the street overnight.
In response to concerns from neighbors over increased party activity and parking, the city recently extended a moratorium on establishing lodging houses in the surrounding zone but has been pressed to do more.
According to the City Council memo, congestion during the school year has caused safety concerns. Neighbors said students are parking too close to driveways and intersections, which also impede deliveries of heating fuel and packages.
At previous meetings, officials discussed two options — a permit parking system or prohibiting on-street overnight parking altogether. The Police Department has since said it believes permit parking is the best option.
Permit stickers are expected to cost about $400, while new street signs to ban overnight parking would cost $4,800.
When the council takes up the issue Tuesday, it may also push the ordinance through quickly, in order to make it effective early in the school year. The council could waive a second reading on the item, meaning the permit system could be in place by mid-September. It also means Tuesday’s meeting could be the only chance for members of the public to comment on the proposal.
According to the memo, a recent Bates College transportation report said there are “ample parking spaces available on the Bates College campus that are not utilized by students/staff and remain empty throughout the year.”
In previous years, the report states, students were picked from a lottery for on-campus parking vouchers, but due to the availability during the upcoming school year, all students will receive an on-campus parking pass.
If approved by the council Tuesday, the permit parking system would have the following stipulations:
• Parking permits would be issued to residents of the Bates College neighborhood after filling out the application.
• Residents would need to show proof that their car is registered in the city of Lewiston prior to obtaining a sticker.
• Residents would display a parking sticker in the rear left corner of their vehicle.
• Enforcement would only be conducted between 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• A violation would result in a parking ticket. Violation No. 51: “Parking in a Prohibited Zone or Place” — $26.
• All residents still must obey city wide parking bans.
arice@sunjournal.com
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a permit parking system in the neighborhood surrounding Bates College, in response to complaints from neighbors about on-street parking during the school year.
If the proposal is accepted, the following streets or portions of streets would be “residential parking by permit only” from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sept. 1 through May 15:
Ware Street
Mountain Avenue
Benson Street
Davis Street
Elm Street (College to Oak)
Abbot Street
Vale Street
White Street
Wood Street (Campus to Vale)
Nichols Street (Campus to Vale)
Bardwell Street (Campus to Vale)
Franklin Street (Campus to Vale)
Oak Street (Elm to Frye)
Campus Street (College to Central)
Frye Street
Central Avenue (Campus to Vale)
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