Cd'A council supports midtown parking plan

In its continuing effort to balance the often conflicting needs of commercial and residential parking in Coeur d’Alene’s midtown, the City Council is moving forward with a comprehensive multi-pronged parking plan within the unique corridor.

The council voted Tuesday to conceptually support a midtown parking plan that includes proposals for improving and expanding public lots on Third and Fourth streets, implementation of a pilot residential-permit parking program, improved alley lighting and creation of loading zones.

Community planning director Hilary Anderson told the council the study, which city officials have been working on for more than a year, analyzes the parking needs unique to midtown and identifies the dynamics that have created those needs. The study area spans nine-blocks along Fourth Street between Foster and Harrison avenues.

Among the considerations is the creation of a one-year pilot program that would allow residents on Montana, Roosevelt and Reid avenues between Third and Fifth streets to purchase permits to secure parking in front of the residences.

Longtime midtown resident Susan Sindelar, a vocal advocate of parking reform in the neighborhood, said she is pleased with the proposed parking permit program.

“The city made sure to provide help for both the businesses and resident of the neighborhood,” said Sindelar, who has lived on Montana Avenue for nearly 20 years. The pilot program, Sindelar added, will relieve congestion and frustration among residents in the neighborhood caused by “employee parking and delivery trucks and everything in between.”

While the council tentatively supported the permit program, concerns were voiced over lack of detail and enforcement, which would be up to police. If the one-year plan is ultimately adopted at the end of March as proposed, the council asked that city planners report back after six months to check the program’s viability.

Meanwhile, working with the city’s urban renewal agency, ignite cda, the plan also calls for improvements to existing parking lots on Third and Fourth streets, including lighting, striping and asphalt repair.

“People really don’t feel safe parking there at night currently,” Anderson said.

Also under consideration are new loading zones on the east side of Fourth between Roosevelt and Montana.

Anderson said local businesses have been supportive of the lighting and loading zone recommendations.

“They believe improving and lighting the parking lots and designating a loading zone will significantly decrease impacts on surrounding residents,” she said.

The council will also consider improved signage directing midtown visitors to the free parking, encouraging shared-use parking in private lots and identifying future public parking lots. Marketing is key, said Councilman Dan Gookin.

“Selling those (public) parking lots is important,” he said. “Light them up with signs. Let people know it’s free — that will solve a lot of these issues.”