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West Chester to remove on-street meters, roll out kiosks and study resident permit policy
Summary
Staff told the parking committee the borough will remove on-street meters by July 1, replacing them with kiosks and enforcing a three-hour maximum on Central Business District streets; staff also proposed a parking satisfaction survey and auto-renewal for homeowner permits.
Parking staff told the West Chester Parking Committee on May 13 that the borough will remove on-street meters by July 1 because kiosks are installed and meter monitoring costs are increasing. Staff said meter monitoring is rising by 30¢ per meter, which would push per-meter costs to about $6.60 under the current structure.
The director’s report said kiosks and mobile-pay options (including pay-by-text and a QR-code app) will be promoted with postcards and maps. Staff noted the borough ordinance already sets a three-hour maximum for on-street parking in the Central Business District; once on-street meters are removed and payment is by plate, staff said signage will be updated to make the three-hour limit clear and to direct longer-staying drivers to lots or garages.
Staff also reported PennDOT had agreed to allow the borough to approve “streetery” permits so businesses would not be delayed pending PennDOT’s internal review. The director said Mercado has its permit and that police and public-works staff coordinated to keep dumpster pickup and sightlines safe near the platform.
The director and staff said a parking satisfaction and understanding survey will be circulated to residents and businesses in June to inform potential changes to permit policy. Possible permit reforms discussed include limiting the number of permits per property (for example raising the fee for second permits), vehicle-type pricing, or reserving permits for deeded property owners. Staff proposed making homeowner permits auto-renew annually for deeded owners by storing license and registration on file and deactivating permits on property sale.
Committee members and staff also flagged an operational detail: motorcycles have begun occupying a shortened 10-foot area near the Mercado platform; staff suggested updating signage and formally designating motorcycle parking so the borough captures appropriate revenue and clarifies use.
Staff emphasized they will support businesses through the transition and have coordinated a postcard and map with the Public Arts Commission to help drivers find lots and garages. The committee directed staff to draft a survey and return with a proposed permit-policy path in a future meeting.
