Want to park overnight on Balboa Village streets? If you live there, you might soon need a permit
The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday will again consider moving forward with overnight permit parking for residential streets west of Balboa Village, between Adams Street and Island Avenue, in an attempt to free up more areas for residents to park.
The city began looking into the issue after homeowners near Balboa Village complained of parking shortages because of spillover from the commercial area. Early this year, the City Council approved permit parking for part of the commercial area but voted to leave out residential permits because few property owners had participated in a survey intended to gauge support for the program, according to a city staff report.
Since January, the city has held several meetings and sent an advisory ballot to 1,297 households, absentee property owners and mooring permit holders who would be affected by the change in parking regulations.
About 57% of the households that were mailed the survey responded. About 58% of the respondents expressed support for the program.
“The advisory ballot revealed greater support for the program along blocks closer to Balboa Village, where parking conflicts are most apparent,” the staff report states.
Originally, the city considered including the streets between Seventh Street and Adams Street, but based on the results of the survey, staff decided to reduce the area to streets between Island Avenue and Adams Street, according to the staff report.
If approved, permit parking would be enforced from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily. Each household could receive up to four annual permits at a cost of $16 each, plus up to six daily guest permits at a cost of $1 each.
The Balboa Village Advisory Committee, made up of city officials, business owners and residents, is recommending that the city implement the program in two phases, first issuing permits between Adams Street and Medina Way and later, if necessary, between Medina Way and Island Avenue.
In letters to the City Council, several residents supported the proposal, pointing to constant concern about the availability of parking. However, others opposed the cost of the permits.
Susan Langlie Upson, whose family has had a home on Fernando Street for 50 years, wrote in a letter to the council that she believes residents shouldn’t have to pay for the permits.
“Any permits to keep ‘outsiders’ off our residential streets should be at no charge to residents/guests and should be convenient to obtain,” she wrote. “Anything else smacks of pure revenue generation and nothing more. If that is the true purpose of this program, then make the tourists buy permits and limit where they can park, not us.”
The California Coastal Commission would need to sign off on the program before it could be implemented.
Tuesday’s City Council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Drive.
