Balboa Village residents can weigh in on permit parking

Balboa Village residents who haven’t yet weighed in on the parking permit program that’s being floated for their neighborhoods will have another opportunity

The city is sending out another round of ballots to the roughly 762 homeowners who have not yet voiced their opinion about the proposal, which would restrict street parking to permit holders between 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. daily in certain areas of Balboa Village.

City officials initially asked residents and nearby mooring permit holders to vote on the idea by mail in February, but less than half of the residents polled have returned their ballots, said Community Development Director Kim Brandt.

Of those who have responded, 50.3% voted in favor of the plan, and 49.7% were opposed, officials said.

“The responses will be an indicator to the council whether the majority of residents support a parking management program,” Mayor Pro Tem Diane Dixon said. “We’re trying to figure out a way to manage parking while still encouraging public access. It’s an age-old challenge.”

The permit parking zone has been proposed to encompass all public streets between 7th and Adams streets, except for the on-street metered stalls on Balboa Boulevard.

However, if residents from certain streets are opposed to the project then the plan could be modified, Dixon said.

“This entire issue of parking management is driven by the residents,” she said. “They are just looking for some type of relief.”

The city began looking into the issue after homeowners living near Balboa Village complained of parking shortages because of spillover from the commercial area, according to city staff reports.

The City Council in November approved permit parking for part of the commercial area, but voted to leave out residential permits after several homeowners complained that it would be inconvenient.

Some residents have also taken issue with the price of the permits, which would be issued annually at a cost of $16. Each household could have a maximum of four residential permits and up to six permits for overnight guests, at a cost of $1 each.

The program will be voted on by the City Council and would need California Coastal Commission approval.