Residents Near Samohi Could Finally Get Parking Relief

By Lookout Staff

July 10 -- The last remaining neighborhood adjacent to Samohi could get some relief from the student parking crunch after staff recommended that the City Council carve out a new preferential parking zone Tuesday night.

The proposed zone south of Pico and west of Lincoln boulevards, across from the high school, had been opposed by the California Coastal Commission, which had indicated it would not approve additional daytime parking restrictions.

But after six years, the commission, which has jurisdiction over the area, recently indicated it would consider a new zone if staff can show that the demand for parking is caused by students and not beachgoers.

“Over the past five years, the residents to the east of Lincoln (both north and south of Pico) have been granted preferential restrictions, which has shifted more demand for parking to this neighborhood,” City staff wrote in their report to the council.

The area -- which is made up primarily of apartment buildings and single-family homes -- is attracting students who choose to drive to school, instead of following the lead of most students who take the bus or are dropped off.

“In addition to parking by high school students, customers and employees from businesses along Lincoln Boulevard park in the neighborhood,” staff wrote. “Residents have also reported that some of the Sheraton Delphina hotel visitors and employees sometimes park in the neighborhood.”

Parking occupancy counts conducted in February show that the area suffers from a sever parking crunch, with occupancies generally at or above 85 percent, according to the staff report.

“The counts indicate that on-street parking on the residential streets can be difficult to find,” staff wrote.. “In staff’s experience, it is at this point that residents have great difficulty and frustration when seeking on-street parking on the block where they live.”

It is time, staff wrote, to give some “relief” to the residents of the 600-700 block of Bay Street between Lincoln Boulevard and 6th Street, who filed a petition in 2001.

Staff recommends granting those residents preferential parking restrictions, and pre-approving the entire area south to Ocean Park Boulevard and west to (but not including) 4th Street.

The council’s anticipated action “would restrict blocks closest to Santa Monica High School with ‘no parking, except by permit’ and allow ‘two-hour parking, except by permit’ in the remainder of the zone,” staff wrote.

As additional petitions are received, preferential restrictions could be implemented, staff said.

There would be an initial increase in revenue of approximately $1,620 per year from permits sold, with incremental revenue likely as additional blocks petition.