Yet another parking study

If all the sheets of paper from all the parking studies published by the City of Laguna Beach were laid on the ground, they would easily cover the area of the city – and half of the Pacific Ocean.

And yet, we have another new parking study.

Woo-woo.

Like every one of its predecessors, this one has lofty goals.

“The objective … is to recommend strategies and actions that will help to alleviate some of the adverse impacts on mobility in the City’s commercial zones and on the quality of life in residential neighborhoods resulting from visitors and employees in need of parking,” it proclaims.

Strategies … mobility … quality of life – all that’s missing is a recommendation on where to park for the city’s best taco.

Now that would be a parking study worth some hot sauce.

Much of this draft report is not particularly groundbreaking (and gives a nod to past studies). If you read it, you’ll probably often say, “Tell me something I don’t know.”

For example: “The data collected for this report, along with the field observations of City staff and the consultants validates the following conclusions:

• Parking demand for the commercial areas and beach-related demand is spilling over to residential streets.
• Patrons of local businesses, including residents, have difficulty finding parking in key areas.
• Drivers are having difficulty finding spaces and are often ‘circling’ to find spaces, which contributes to congestion and environmental impacts.
• Frustrations over parking availability for visitors, residents, and employees are likely suppressing economic activity and impacting residents’ quality of life, to some degree.”

OK, so we’re all validated.

But finally, about halfway through the 141-page report, we get to the good parts – the recommendations.

And the first recommendation is … (drum roll): Build a parking structure. Actually, more than one.

The report identifies 11 locations throughout the city that can support a parking structure. Some are compelling (existing Village Entrance, Wells Fargo, below the lawn bowling club) but others are, just, meh (hospital, Act V lot way down the canyon, Lang Park).

All of them are not created equal. In other words, they have drawbacks.

“This determination of ‘viability’ is strictly from a physical perspective, with consideration given to the cost relative to spaces gained,” the report says. “It is not a final determination by any means, as more detailed design and study are needed before determining true feasibility.”

Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done – and public meetings to endure – but it seems like city leaders are finally moving ahead to tackle parking. A final version of this report is expected later in the spring, which is also when the City Council might whittle down the parking structure shortlist.

And maybe, just maybe, we can stop the madness of circling our streets, looking for an elusive parking spot.