Residents press Lansdale council on downtown parking limits, permit rules and enforcement

Residents who live and work in downtown Lansdale used public comment at Wednesday's council meeting to describe limited parking, new fees and permit restrictions that they say hamper daily life and local businesses.

Kathleen Burke, who identified herself as living at 311 West Main Street, said the SEPTA lot that had been free is now charging and the authority will not sell commuter passes to noncommuters. “We're unable to get more than one parking pass for the apartment,” Burke said. She described one of the two lots she was allowed to use as having only 33 spaces and said those spaces are not guaranteed.

Ashley, a downtown resident, said permit enforcement at Madison Street Apartments sometimes does not prevent nonpermit parking by guests, and that the one-per-residence permit rule can be impractical when multiple adults live in a single apartment. “It can be rather frustrating to be able to support [downtown businesses] because then you have to basically plan your day about, well, when can I go to support them because of that?” Ashley said.

Elizabeth Patchall, a resident who urged parking passes for borough employees, said hourly parking costs are a heavy burden for municipal workers who earn modest wages. Patchall proposed an annual colored permit system similar to systems used on local campuses to ease daily expenses for workers who rely on downtown parking.

Several speakers asked for clearer lines of communication with the borough's parking authority; Kathleen Burke said the parking authority meeting that had been scheduled was canceled and not yet rescheduled, leaving residents without a clear contact or forum until May.

Council members acknowledged the concern and pointed to ongoing committee work. Councilman BJ Breisch said the economic development committee had reviewed a parking study with recommendations and that those materials will move through committee channels for further consideration. Council members encouraged residents to attend committee meetings, where many parking policy discussions occur.

No formal parking policy changes were enacted at the meeting. Council members and staff said they would assist residents with contact information and that the Economic Development Committee and other committees will continue work on parking policy options, including permit structures and enforcement timing.

Background: Speakers referenced multiple localized issues: new charges at the SEPTA commuter lot, a one-per-residence permit limit for apartments, limited resident-designated spaces near West Main/Madison Street, and a canceled parking authority meeting that left questions outstanding.

Next steps: Residents were invited to provide contact information to borough staff. Council members said committee review of the parking study will inform potential changes to permits or enforcement practices; an updated schedule from the parking authority was not available at the meeting.