For the purpose of this article, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to
them by this section:
A special permit issued for the privilege of parking on a
street designated as a residential permit parking area for a period
in excess of the posted time limit. Parking privileges may be limited
by the conditions of the permit.
A contiguous area containing streets or parts thereof primarily
abutted by property which is in residential use and has specific residential
zones and which area has been recommended by the Traffic Engineer
or designee and approved by the City Council for restricted residential
parking in accordance with the procedures herein established.
A street as defined according to the Annotated Code of Maryland,
Transportation Article, Title 11, § 11-101 et seq.
A motor vehicle parked in a residential permit parking area
and not registered to or in lawful possession of a resident of any
such area and whose owner has not obtained a residential parking permit
for the particular motor vehicle that is so parked.
A.
In order to determine whether a particular area should
be designated as a residential permit parking area, the Traffic Engineer,
upon a petition of 65% of the dwelling units in such proposed area,
addressed to the Traffic Engineer, will conduct a study to determine
if the proposed area meets the criteria set forth in this article.
Upon approval of the study the Traffic Engineer or his or her designee
shall conduct a public meeting to discuss the findings of the study.
After considering the information presented at this meeting, the Traffic
Engineer shall submit findings and recommendations to the City Council,
which shall have final authority to designate an area, by resolution,
as a residential permit parking area.
B.
The City Council may remove a previously designated
"residential permit parking" from part or all of any such area as
it deems necessary.
C.
After designation of an area as a residential permit
parking area, the Traffic Engineer shall cause regulations to be promulgated
and signs erected upon the public streets in the area establishing
the locations, conditions, times, and days during which parking shall
be allowed or prohibited.
A.
A residential permit parking area may be deemed eligible
for residential permit parking if, based on objective criteria hereinafter
established, parking therein is impacted by transient vehicles.
B.
The following objective criteria are hereby established
to be used in evaluating the need for restricted parking in a residentially
zoned area in accordance with this section. For an area to be eligible
for residential permit parking, that area must meet the following
criteria:
(1)
During any period of the day, the number of vehicles
parked (or standing) legally or illegally on the streets in the area
is equal to 70% or more of the legal on-street parking capacity of
the area. For purposes of this criteria, a legal parking space will
be 20 linear feet.
(2)
During the same period set forth in Subsection B(1) of this section, 25% or more of the vehicles parking (or standing) on the streets in the area are not registered in the name of a person residing in this area. For purposes of this criteria, the latest available information from the Motor Vehicle Administration regarding registration of motor vehicles shall be used.
C.
Prior to any residential neighborhood area being designated
as a residential permit parking area, the following factors shall
be considered:
(1)
The need for parking regulation to maintain the residential
character of neighborhoods.
(2)
The desire and the need of the area residents for
residential permit parking and their willingness to bear the associated
administrative and annual renewal fees as set by resolution of the
Mayor and City Council.
(3)
The need for parking for business establishments and
the general public for health or commercial purposes.
(4)
The proximity of public transportation.
(5)
The availability of off-street parking for transients.
(6)
The possibility of a reduction in vehicle miles traveled
through encouragement of car and van pools.
After an area has been approved for restricted
parking, the Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to regulate residential
permit parking areas by appropriate signs and regulations which prohibit
the parking of vehicles on public streets between certain hours of
certain days unless the vehicles have valid residential parking permits
issued in accordance with this article. The authority contained in
this section shall not be construed to limit any other authority which
the Traffic Engineer may have to regulate parking.
A.
Following the official designation of a residential permit parking area, the City shall issue appropriate residential parking permits, subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Traffic Engineer under Subsection B(1). A permit shall be issued, upon application and payment of the initial administrative fee and subsequent annual renewal fee as established by resolution of the Mayor and City Council. Residential parking permits shall only be issued to the owner or the operator of a motor vehicle who resides in a residential permit parking area. If the vehicle with a permit is sold, a duplicate permit will be issued, upon application, at a fee which is set by resolution of the Mayor and City Council.
B.
Rules and regulations.
(1)
The Traffic Engineer is authorized, in his/her discretion,
to promulgate rules and regulations:
(a)
Concerning the total number of parking permits
authorized to be issued for each dwelling unit within residential
permit parking areas, based upon the amount of on-street and off-street
parking available in the area; and
(b)
Concerning the parking by bona fide visitors
of residents in any designated residential permit parking areas, including
the establishment of a fee for any temporary parking permits.
(2)
Such rules and regulations shall allow parking of
vehicles owned by companies which are subject to the jurisdiction
of the State Public Service Commission and which are then engaged
in rendering services to residents in any designated residential permit
parking areas without any permit requirements.
C.
The application for a permit shall contain information
required by the Traffic Engineer. The motor vehicle's registration
and operator's license may, in the discretion of the Traffic Engineer,
be required to be presented at the time of making said application
in order to verify the contents thereof. In the event the vehicle
is registered at an address other than the local residence, the applicant
shall provide an affidavit from the property owner acceptable to the
Traffic Engineer, showing residency within the residential parking
area. The permit shall be valid for a year and shall be renewed for
each successive year upon payment of the yearly fee. Such renewal
shall be issued upon such conditions and procedures as the Director
of Economic Development and Planning shall specify. The permit shall
display the expiration date and area.
A.
A residential parking permit shall not guarantee or
reserve a parking space within the designated residential permit parking
area.
B.
A residential parking permit shall not authorize the
holder thereof to stand or park a motor vehicle in such places or
during such times as the stopping, standing, or parking of a motor
vehicle is otherwise prohibited or set aside for specified types of
vehicles, nor exempt the holder from the observance of any traffic
regulation other than the posted parking limit within the residential
permit parking area.
C.
Only the permittee shall display the residential parking
permit and shall do so only on that vehicle which has been listed
on the application. Any other display shall constitute a violation
of this article by the permittee and by the person who so displayed
such parking permit.
D.
It shall constitute a violation of this article for
any person to falsely represent themselves as eligible for a residential
parking permit or to furnish any false information in an application
to the Traffic Engineer in order to obtain a residential parking permit.
E.
The Traffic Engineer is authorized to revoke the residential
parking permit of any permittee found to be in violation of this article.
