Commissioners send Barton Avenue parking ban back to staff, seek citywide solution for mixed-use streets

Commissioner Lopez brought forward an ordinance amendment to prohibit on-street parking on Barton Avenue, citing a signed petition from 18 residents who said commercial mechanics and nonoperational vehicles were parked for extended periods in front of homes. Lopez asked that property owners be allowed limited overnight parking at their own homes (midnight–4 a.m.) but otherwise that street parking be restricted on Barton Avenue.

Commissioners and staff discussed zoning complications: parts of the street are grandfathered light-industrial or commercial, while the opposite side is residential. City staff said one business in the area had closed after enforcement found it lacked required approvals; staff noted existing code tools (tagging inoperable vehicles, towing when legal standards are met) but acknowledged recurring complaints.

Several commissioners urged a broader approach rather than singling out one street. They asked staff to propose ordinance language that would address mixed-use corridors and prohibit business owners from using public street parking in front of private homes as de facto customer or storage lots. The commission voted to table the Barton Avenue item and asked staff to return with a revised draft that targets mixed-use conflicts and clarifies enforcement and grandfathering.

Officials said the outcome should balance residents’ quality-of-life concerns with the practical realities of older mixed-use neighborhoods; staff suggested tools including rezoning, buffers, and requirements that businesses provide on-site parking if they locate in residential edges.

The commission requested the revised draft be returned at a future meeting for additional consideration.