By Krista Jorgensen
The Provo City Municipal Council met Tuesday, Nov. 19, to discuss possible solutions for overflow parking on 3rd North, just east of 9th East.
When the unofficial parking agreement between Belmont Condominiums and Seven Peaks ended in time for the 2002 Winter Olympics, the already large parking problem got bigger.
Since then, Belmont tenants and BYU students have been parking on surrounding residential streets.
Council member Dennis Poulsen said Belmont Condominiums cannot accommodate the extra 50 to 60 cars that are parking on neighboring streets.
“Neighbors have taken it into their own hands by telling people to move,” Poulsen said. “But it is a continual sore spot when people can”t park in front of their own houses.”
Poulsen said he felt Provo City and the council need to find solutions to make all residents happy.
One solution discussed was to initiate a parking permit program for 3rd North residents.
Council member Dave Knecht said this solution would solve part of the problem, but the extra cars would just find another adjacent area to park.
Council Attorney Neil Lindberg said there were two legal options available: a petitioned permit ordinance initiated by the council, or a public hearing.
“We need to look and see how to best solve the problem,” Knecht said. “I”m anticipating they will go somewhere else.”
Other solutions included a red paint strip, overnight restrictions and a neighborhood meeting.
Mayor Lewis Billings said a neighborhood meeting would be a healthy resolution.
“I think we ought to have a neighborhood meeting to explore the options,” Billings said. “If no one can park there, not everyone will be happy.”
Poulsen said a Provo City administrator will attend the meeting to answer questions and talk intelligently with the residents.
