Residents of Georgetown South — one of Manassas’ most densely-populated townhome neighborhoods — will have to live with new restrictions on parking.
Last night, the City Council approved the creation of a new parking district, ordering the City Treasurer’s Office to now sell just two parking permits per household at the cost of $25 each. Before the unanimous vote, no parking permits were required for residents who live in 860 townhomes just outside the city’s downtown.
The move does not establish designated parking spaces, so residents will continue to park in a space closest to their homes. The council also hiked the fee to obtain a parking permit for all established parking districts across the city from $10 to $25.
Reaction to the plan was mixed, and the council’s decision comes after years of debate on how to help the private community solve its parking issues.
Unlike other private communities in the city, the streets in Georgetown South are maintained by the city, which means the public works department is responsible for repaving them and for plowing them after snowfalls. Because of that fact, Georgetown South cannot mark designated parking spaces.
The community’s HOA balked at a proposal made earlier this year by City Councilmember Theresa Coates Ellis to privatize the streets. If it had accepted the deal, the neighborhood HOA would have given a full say over who, when, and where residents may park.
With parking at a free-for-all, many residents Tuesday night said they supported the new rules, telling the council they’re afraid to leave their homes after 9 p.m., fearing they won’t’ have a parking space when they return. Others who work the late shift, and return home to find no available parking, said the new permitting system would help.
Others who own more than two vehicles said it would force their family to downsize or move away altogether. Some said the city should be doing more to police the neighborhood rather than focus on its parking issues.
“I’ve lost two friends to overdosing, and I see the daily drug deals,” said Melissa King, who lived in Georgetown South since 1985. “I have to call the police to get them out of the handicapped spaces they use to facilitate the drug deals.”
There are about 1,750 parking spaces in Georgetown South, two spaces per home. Most residents said they have more than two cars, including work vehicles.
Councilman David Farajollahi, who is seeking election to the public body after being appointed earlier this year, took it upon himself to translate council members’ comments to Georgetown South residents, despite the fact, Mayor Michelle Davis Younger said two Spanish-speaking interpreters were on hand to translate for Spanish-speaking residents.
“When Georgetown South was built [in the early 1960s], two cars per house was the norm,” said Councilman Mark Wolfe. “Times have changed, but, unfortunately, the geography of Georgetown South has not.”
Councilwoman Pamela Sebesky and Farahollahi urged the neighborhood’s HOA to purchase more land for parking and swap unused green spaces for more parking. “These things aren’t anything this [city] council can do,” said Sebesky.
Under the new rules unanimously approved by the City Council, vehicles parked in the neighborhood must show a valid parking permit by 10 p.m. or risk being towed. Before, towing wouldn’t begin until midnight.
To get a permit, residents must provide the city’s Treasurer with two documents to prove residency. They include a state-issued photo ID, proof of payment of a city vehicle license fee, proof of a current vehicle insurance policy, proof of payment of a security deposit, lease or mortgage documents, a Virginia voter registration card, or a utility bill.
They’ll also have to prove they own the vehicle and will need to show the city a Virginia vehicle registration card or proof that they paid the city’s vehicle registration fee.
When drivers renew the permits, they won’t be asked to show the documents again and will only be asked to prove they continue living at the address to which the permit is registered.
Each house will be allowed to purchase up to 25 guest permits per year, five less than what the neighborhood’s Board of Trustees had requested. Guest permits will be sold in packages of five for $25 each.
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