Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking Signs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Longwood officials say no-parking signs on East Palmetto were placed after safety review; city manager to respond to resident
Summary
A resident complained about a newly installed 'no parking anytime' sign in front of her East Palmetto Avenue townhome. City Manager Mr Watts told the commission staff, including police and public works, determined on-street parking posed a safety concern and will respond to residents’ emails and assess access issues.
Lina Mejia, a Longwood resident, told the City Commission on Oct. 20 that a new “no parking anytime” sign was installed in front of her townhome at 204 East Palmetto Avenue with arrows pointing both directions, leaving her unit between the arrows and concerned about communication and emergency access.
“There was a new no parking anytime sign installed in front of me and my neighbor's house,” Mejia said, adding she has emailed Chad Smith and received an automated reply from a city contact but had not yet seen a substantive response.
City Manager Mr Watts responded during his report that staff — including police and public works — inspected the location and concluded on‑street parking did pose a safety concern, prompting placement of the signs. “Staff ... assessed the area and determined that on street parking did pose a safety concern, and a decision was made to place no street parking between 2 signs,” Mr Watts said. He added that the townhome plat did not presume on‑street parking and that the development provides two on‑site garage parking spaces per unit.
The city manager said staff will respond to resident emails and will assess related access questions such as garbage-truck and fire-truck turning movements. Commissioners raised those access concerns: Mayor Bridal D. Sackett and Commissioner Morgan asked staff to verify whether John Micah Way and other nearby lanes offer safe alternative parking and service access.
Mr Watts also noted John Micah Way, a parallel street near the railroad, allows street parking and can provide overflow parking. He said staff will follow up with information for neighbors and will post informational signage or online notices as needed.
Why it matters: the exchange clarified the city's safety rationale for the signs and established a concrete follow-up: staff committed to reply to residents’ emails and to review service-vehicle access. The commission did not take formal action to reverse the signs during the meeting.
Next steps: Mr Watts said staff will provide answers to the specific resident inquiries and evaluate any citywide safety concerns related to on‑street parking.
