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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 01-21-1999 - 2ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 21, 1999 Action Agenda Item No. ~ SUBJECT: Parking Matters DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) ~Vcr~'~? BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/N) N ~'.=t'n ATTACHMENT(S): 6/13/90 Report from Hillsborough Parking Committee INFORMEiTION CONTACT: Commissioner Barry Jacobs, 732-4941 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To discuss pazking related issues for downtown Hillsborough and the County campus. BACKGROUND: Commissioner Jacobs has suggested that the Orange County and Hillsborough Boards of Commissioners discuss a number of parking related issues of interest to the County and Town governments, as well as citizens and visitors to Hillsborough. Points the Boazds may wish to discuss could include, but are not necessarily limited to: • Court/juror needs as articulated by the courts • Orange County staff needs (quantified) • Safety concerns after dark • Importance of citizen accessibility to county offices when doing business • Possible additional pazcels to consider for downtown pazking • Van pooling: incentives and disincentives for county and town employees A Hillsborough Pazking Committee met during 1990 to discuss relevant issues, and included representatives of the County, Town, and Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce. A copy of a June 1990 report prepazed by that committee is attached for reference. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Boards discuss the parking issues, and provide direction to staff as appropriate. June 13, 1990 Dear Chamber of Commerce, County and Town Commissioners, The beginning of a new decade required a fresh look at the long- standing parking problem in Downtown Hillsborough. Therefore, the Chamber of Commerce, Orange County and the Town of Hillsborough created the Hillsborough Parking Committee to analyze our parking problem and to recommend solutions to the above,~odies to offer potential solutions ,for this perennial problem. From the first meeting of the Committee on January 10, 1990 to the last meeting on June 13, 1990, the Committee strove to examine all areas and aspects of parking with an eye to recommending these solutions to the sponsoring bodies. Attachaed is the list of goals and recommendations of implementation strategies developed by the Committee. We hope this first list of goals will spur further discussion and additional strategies to improve parking in Hillsborough. Also attached is a map showing parking areas with recommendations as well as an inventory of current solutions. There is additional data concerning the parking situation available for your review in the Town of Hillsborough Planning Office. Parking in Downtown Hillsborough ~is a multi-faceted problem that requires not only multi-faceted solutions but the interest and committment of the Town of Hillsborough, Orange County and the Chamber of Commerce's members to reach a satisfactory solution. It is our hope that within a relatively short period of time many of these strategies can be implemented to immediately correct what we feel are serious parking problems. We understand there are long term solutions but we hope these, too, can be dealt with in a reasonable period of time. With your assistance, we can make Hillsborough an even more pleasant place to visit and conduct business. If you have any questions regarding these recommendations, please consult your representative listed below for assistance. Thank you for your considration, help and time. Respectfully submitted, THE HILLSBOROUGH PARKING COMMITTEE Ted Latta, Chairman Bob Rose, Hillsborough Commissioner Hunt McRinnon, Hillsborough Historic District Commission Chairman John Link, Orange County Manager Larry Biggs, Hillsborough Police Chief Janet Rigsbee, Hillsborough Planner George~Horton, Chamber of Commerce, Pres. Louie Callemyn, Chamber of Commerce GOALS Provide and protect convenient parking in downtown for customers and employees Provide more parking at the Courthouse areas Encourage employees/ owners to use less convenient spaces RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH PARKING COMMITTEE IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERING BODE - strive to protect existing on-street parking on Churton and King Sts: by working with the NCDOT - request all-day commuter parking to park in designated park and ride spaces with a letter from police - if this does not work, study requiring by ordinance - inform employees regarding private lots with spaces. for rent - attempt to acquire additional land For parking lots - provide convenient, short-term (15 minute & 2 hour) parking spaces with standard style, short signs per map - see all of the following strategies - include a parking map with jury notices All Town of Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce All Town of Hillsborough Clerk of Court - rearrange parking by restriping Town of Hillsborough Court~St. when street is made one-way (plan available) " - coordinate a proposal for a feasibility study to build a parking deck over the Courthouse parking lot (George Horton, Paul Timms and Janet"Rigsbee) - rearrange parking at the new Courthouse parking lot to provide more spaces - paving may be required ~ . - address parking problems at the construction of the new building - write to business owners and employees requesting they use off-street parking. - include map (attached).. - publicize concern and solutions in area newspapers Joint Venture Orange County Orange County Orange County Chamber of Commerce Parking Committee 6/13/9G. TYPE constant immediate immediate constant immediate immediate immediate immediate long term immediate :r"". ., immediate . ~. immediate ~"' ;• RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE IiILLSBOROUGH PARKING COPiMITTEE cont . ~ ~; GOALS ~ IMPLEPIENTATION CONSIDERING BODY, TYPE Increase enforcement - recommended changes for consideration: Town of Hillsborough immediate ~. of parking regulations - change type of enforcement action from civil to criminal . increase the fine for violations to $25.00 ' - publicize the enforcement procedures ' - enforce on a consistent basis and if necessary, request additional, part-time help for full-scale enforcement Make public .parking - design a coordinated sign program Downtown Revitalization immediate easier to identify - provide a parking brochure Chamber of Commerce immediate Make parking and - actively seek an immediate eastern Town of Hillsborough immediate traffic movement bypass to eliminate heavy truck Orange County efficient and through traffic . to make back door -: request vendors All immediate deliveries when possible - make'the alleys serviceable for All immediate deliveries and vehicles - encourage and develop rear lot All constant parking lots Improve pedestrian - paint a pedestrian crossing on Town of Hillsborough immediate safety middle of N. Churton St. per~map - paint pedestrian crosswalks at Town of Hillsborough immediate intersections ' - repair broken curbing and Town of Hillsborough immediate sidewalk Improve handicap - remove handicap spaces from Town of Hillsborough immediate N. Churton St. and provide safe CCB spaces at nearby parking lots NCNB ~.., '~ R'~ To monitor and - meet again on ~°a '~~~Y+~e-~~, 1990 Parking Committee increase awareness at the Village Diner ~ .,. _• ~. of parking issues - keep parking considerations All constant ' foremost in mind when planning and reviewing new work