Atherton council study session eyes residential permit parking, short-term lot changes after library overflow

Atherton Town held a special study session July 2 to consider neighborhood parking and circulation problems around the Town Center and library after repeated overflow during popular library programs.

Chief Stephen McCauley, Atherton’s chief of police, told the council the neighborhood surrounding the Town Center and library has experienced "significant parking congestion, particularly during popular library programs like story time." He said the Transportation, Bike & Pedestrian Committee recommended considering a resident parking-permit program for Maple Avenue and that the town will undertake a comprehensive circulation and parking study this fiscal year.

The report outlined steps the town has already taken to reduce congestion: speed studies, speed humps installed at resident requests, voluntary program shifts by the library, bilingual outreach asking patrons to carpool or use alternate parking, and staff efforts to redirect vehicles during busy programs. McCauley said some immediate operational tactics are being used "to redirect traffic away from" the neighborhood and that the town’s traffic unit is monitoring the situation.

Council members and several staff described possible near-term measures that would not require…