No-parking zones reduced, police to enforce restrictions
The great parking debate has been temporarily quieted by the Logan City Council’s decision to have police enforce no-parking zones wherever signs are posted east and west of Utah State University.
The restricted area west of the school will include the following streets:
500 East, from 400 North to 600 North, on the east side of the street;
600 East, from 400 North to 900 North, on both east and west sides of the street;
700 East, from 700 North to 800 North, on the west side of the street.
500 North, from 500 East to 600 East, on both north and south sides of the street;
600 North, from 500 East to 600 East, on both north and south sides of the street;
800 North, from 500 East to 800 East, on both north and south sides of the street.
The restricted area is about 40 percent smaller than it was since officials bagged signs on streets where they found restrictions unnecessary, said Officer Louise Speth, parking liaison for the Logan City Police Department.
“We’re trying to make it not unfair,” she said. “We know there are a lot of issues in that area that affect everybody. But we’re trying to take care of safety concerns.”
Residents have spoken with city officials about difficulty seeing around cars at stop signs, being blocked into their driveways and seeing fire-hydrants blocked, among other problems.
“The problem is that there are careful students, and then there are people who aren’t careful,” Speth said.
The restrictions were well-received on the east side, she said. The problem on the west side is two-fold: students who commute are trying to park for free on the roadside, and students who live in the area have brought more cars than there are places to park them.
University parking is available for commuters; area residents present a more difficult problem, said Jay Nielsen, who works with Logan City community development.
The problem has been developing since the 1950s, when homeowners in the area began renting rooms and basement apartments to students and more and more students were bringing cars, Nielsen said. A house meant for three doesn’t sprout more parking spaces because 10 students move in, he said.
“The picture gets to be very, very ugly in a real hurry,” he said. “That’s where we’re in real trouble – it’s gone so far.”
City officials are continually working on a permanent solution for residential parking, but it has so far been a work in vain. They have found even if a city ordinance forces landlords to provide enough parking, only about half actually have the space to, and fewer can afford to, Nielsen said. And requiring landlords to limit tenants according to parking availability would significantly cut student housing options near campus.
“It is a difficult situation,” he said. “And we know that ultimately we’re not going to be able to make everybody happy.”
For now, the restrictions in place will be enforced.
Logan Parking Authority personnel are issuing warnings today and Tuesday, but beginning Wednesday vehicles parked in the restricted area without a permit displayed will be ticketed.