Sumner council debates short-term parking options after private lot closure near Sound Transit garage

The Sumner City Council discussed short-term parking mitigation options July 7 after staff warned that a private lot currently used by commuters will be partially closed for soil remediation ahead of Sound Transit’s new parking garage construction.

City officials said the southern half of the former Red Apple Market site, which has been used informally for about 200 cars, will be fenced and the contractor’s work will begin under a volunteer remediation agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology starting July 10. That change will remove roughly 80–90 spaces commuters have been using, staff said.

Council members were asked for policy direction on three staff options: take no local action and rely on Sound Transit’s mitigation plan (point commuters to Bonney Lake and Puyallup park-and-ride lots and shuttles); temporarily relax some restricted parking zone (RPZ) permits on selected streets to free curb spaces for commuters; or remove RPZ restrictions near the station entirely while construction continues. Staff warned there is no single ‘‘silver-bullet’’ solution and described operational limits on enforcement.

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