When city planners set out to develop a new permit parking zone for Golden’s Eighth Street neighborhood, it only made sense to make a blend of its neighbors – business-heavy downtown and the residential Ninth Street zone.
Starting this summer, Eighth Street between Washington Avenue and Elm Circle will have seasonal parking restrictions. Motorists will only be allowed to park along this stretch of Eighth Street for two hours or if they have permits.
These will apply from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays through Sundays from May 1-Oct. 1.
The Golden City Council approved this special permit parking zone at its June 17 meeting, where some residents supported it via public comments. In fact, a few wondered why it wasn’t farther along Eighth Street, such as to Briarwood Drive on the west end, or farther north to Miller or Seventh streets.
They were worried that, with Eighth Street being turned into two-hour/permit parking, tubers and other visitors would just start parking farther north and/or west. They said the same thing happened when Ninth Street became a permitted parking zone — the visitors just started parking on Eighth Street.
Golden officials said this initial Eighth Street zone could be modified, perhaps even expanded, depending on the impacts and traffic patterns this season.
City Engineer Joe Puhr estimated it’d take about a month to install the necessary signs and get impacted residents and businesses registered.
He expected enforcement would start in mid- or late July.
In addition to the residences and businesses, Puhr and the councilors noted how these parking restrictions could impact locals who visit the Golden Community Center, the dog park or the community garden. So, they should take note of the new restrictions and park accordingly.
‘Wait and see’
Officials have been discussing implementing a permit parking zone along Eighth Street for at least a year, and based on discussions and survey results, Puhr said most impacted residents and businesses supported one. Some residents even started a petition to ask the city to implement it, he said.
Puhr said there wasn’t as much support from residents farther west on Eighth Street, such as around Briarwood Drive. Thus, the zone was implemented on blocks with the most support and where it’s likely to provide the most parking relief, he described.
Of the three impacted businesses, most customers should be able to complete their visits in a two-hour window, Puhr reported in a memo to City Council. The Woodhouse Spa estimated 20-25% of its visitors would need more time, but said it would have those customers park on unaffected streets or reserve private off-street parking for them.
These businesses’ employees would be eligible to apply for parking permits, along with impacted Eighth Street residents, Puhr clarified in the report.
During the meeting, Mayor Laura Weinberg said the Eighth Street zone should align well with the Golden Community Center’s north parking lot, which also has seasonal parking restrictions on weekends from May 1-Oct. 1.
Councilor Patty Evans believed this special blend of seasonal permit parking and two-hour parking would be ideal for a street that “has both residential and commercial uses,” she described.
Councilor Bill Fisher said some type of permitted parking zone was necessary, with increasing downtown visitation and the forthcoming Clayworks development. He added: “I appreciate the more conservative approach initially and then making adjustments as we see what traffic patterns do. … It’s responsive to the neighbors and meets the needs of the businesses.”