Planning Commission eyes parking ideas

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission on Tuesday discussed expanding residential parking and increasing parking fees if the city goes through with the proposed updates to the Downtown Specific Plan.

The Downtown Specific Plan is a long-range planning document that dictates building specifications and is being updated to increase development over the next 20 years.

The plans encompass the area south of Goldenwest Street and north of Beach Boulevard along the beach and from the pier to Palm Avenue, with Sixth and Lake streets as the boundary lines.

The recommendations to the city include expanding installing parking information and guidance signs, increasing valet services, using remote parking sites and building new parking structures, said Bill Dvorak, a consultant with Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., the firm hired by the city to prepare a downtown parking study.

Commission members voiced concern over raising parking fees, charging employees high rates to park and security for employees parking in remote sites at late hours.

Nine residents spoke during public comment about their concerns with the Downtown Specific Plan.

The Planning Commission’s next study session will be at 5:15 p.m. Aug. 11 in the Civic Center’s Council Chambers, 2000 Main St., to discuss the changes in districts four, six and seven.

An Environmental Impact Report on the proposed downtown changes was released July 20 and will be available for a 45-day public comment period before a meeting Aug. 13.

— Britney Barnes