Belmont Shore Parking Advisory Comm'n Delays Recommendation on Six-Figure Parking Study, Doesn't Recommend Appraisal Or Feasibility Study re Potential Purchase "Roe" Property For Automated Parking Structure

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(July 24, 2015) -- A large crowd, said by one attendee to number about 90 people, turned out for the July 23 meeting of the Belmont Shore Parking & Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission when the agendized topics dealt directly with parking.

On 3-4 vote (Yes: Lorbeer, Jeffer and Starr; No: Schneiter, Forsberg, Lippke and Ramelow), the Advisory Commission declined to support spending up to $6,000 for an appraisal of the "Roe" property (former restaurant and fish market at 5374 E. 2nd St.) and then voted unanimously not to approve spending up to $10,000 to conduct a feasibility study regarding purchase of the property and construction of an automated parking structure at that site.

At this point, it's not clear if Roe property purchase might go forward at the policy-setting City Council level regardless of the Commission's vote (which is advisory.)

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The Commission also voted to hold over until August 20 a decision on whether to concur with city staff and refer to the Council selection and award of a contract to a firm to conduct a parking study (cost: up to $184,800); some Commission members indicated they wanted to see details of proposals submitted by contract bidders. Councilwoman Suzie Price showed up during the meeting and voiced support for a parking study on grounds it would provide her with information on which to base her decisions.

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As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, on May 19, City Attorney Charles Parkin announced open session that in closed session, the Council had voted 9-0 "to request the Belmont Shore Parking [and Business Improvement Area] Advisory Commission to conduct a study which shall include the financial feasibility and traffic impacts and community outreach relating to consideration to purchase 5347 E. 2nd St."

A little less than two months earlier on March 30, Councilwoman Price held a community meeting to discuss what she said at that time were very preliminary terms about whether City Hall might or might not want to pursue with the property, located just west of Bay Shore Ave. near Claremont Ave. An attendee tells us that many of those present were from the Claremont Ave. area and voiced opposition to having a parking structure next too them.

Parking is a chronic sore point for both 2nd St. businesses and adjacent neighborhoods. The shortage of parking bedevils 2nd St. businesses and pushes customers into nearby residential areas where parking is already scarce for residents.