Parking in Ballard might get even more difficult
Dec 15, 2015, 11:54 PM | Updated: May 7, 2016, 11:55 pm
Parking could get a lot easier for residents in Ballard and a little trickier for visitors.
A new study conducted by the Seattle Department of Transportation says an area in Central Ballard could be designated as a Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ).
Michael Kahrs (committee chair of The Central Ballard Residents Association) says, “One of the issues I was seeing was problems with parking. It seemed that every neighborhood that’s had growth has had success with an RPZ, and Ballard did not have one.”
In order to have an RPZ, 75 percent of on-street spaces must be occupied, non-resident vehicles must occupy at least 35 percent of those spaces and the zone falls within 20 contiguous blocks.
SDOT plans for a public meeting and to send out a zone survey in the spring to discuss boundaries and hours of operation for the Ballard area.
You’ve probably seen a Restricted Parking Zone, a street sign will say something along the lines of, “2 hour parking except for Zone 4 permit holders.”
If an RPZ is implemented, residents in the zone would need to apply for a permit. Permits cost $65 for two years and permitted vehicles would be able to park in the same spot in the zone for up to 72 hours. Seriously, can I stop typing RPZ.