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Planning board urges county to use permit parking for Tacoma Green, backs 32 permits
Summary
The planning board voted unanimously to send a letter supporting a county licensing agreement that would give Tacoma Green 32 permit parking placards for spaces on Wait Drive rather than exclusive easements, and asked staff to draft the letter for the county commissioners’ Sept. 17 meeting.
The town’s Planning Board voted unanimously Sept. 8 to recommend that the County Commissioners implement permit parking (placard-based) for 32 of the 51 spaces along Wait Drive as part of the Tacoma Green special-permit conditions. The board instructed staff to draft a letter of support for the county meeting on Sept. 17.
The board’s recommendation follows staff briefings that the special-permit decision contemplated 32 spaces for Tacoma Green but that Wait Drive and its parking did not exist when the permit language was written. Town staff described a plan to issue 51 residential permits for Wait Drive overall and to allocate 32 of those to Tacoma Green residents on a first-come, first-served, placard basis rather than granting a permanent exclusive easement.
Tracy McDonald, the town’s real-estate manager, told the board the dormitory on site has 11 internal spaces including one accessible space and that four of the 51 public spaces are accessible. She described the placard plan: residents would apply and receive a placard tied to a license-plate number and could park in any available space within the designated section. She also reported that Habitat for Humanity has waived parking on Wade Drive and will manage on-site parking by HOA enforcement.
Board members said assigned exclusive spaces would be unwise and that permit placards allow flexibility if future uses change. After discussion, Planning Board member Nat Lowell moved that the board recommend the county adopt the placard/permit plan to satisfy the original special-permit conditions; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
The board added several clarifications for the record: that the requested 32 permits are a subset of 51 spaces on Wait Drive; that permit parking will be enforced; and that the town will work with the County and the applicant to minimize impacts to downtown parking demand. The planning staff said the town will post the licensing documents in the packet and asked the board to approve the letter so the county would have the board’s recommendation at its Sept. 17 meeting.
