Council considers seasonal parking-permit pilot for Historic Heights near Meredith Park

Michigan Bender presented a revised plan for a resident parking-permit pilot in the Historic Heights neighborhood near Meredith Park, responding to resident concerns about event parking during baseball season. Bender said the staff recommendation trims the zone footprint, sets a $0 fee for a first permit and $15 for a second permit per property, and limits enforcement to the baseball season (April 15–Sept. 15).

Bender described enforcement and penalty options the board reviewed. The Board of Traffic and Parking proposed a $250 penalty, but staff instead cited Rockville’s approach as a model: a $50 fine for a first violation and $100 for repeat violations. Permits would be stickers placed on rear vehicle windows; residents could request one visitor pass per permit. Staff also recommended excluding four on-street spaces near Community Rescue Service that are currently restricted and therefore unlikely to be impacted.

Council members raised practical concerns about logistics and voluntary participation. One member asked whether visitors to private homes without a permit would be ticketed during game nights and whether a voluntary, no-penalty rollout would result in few residents obtaining permits. Another councilmember suggested piloting signage and an informational campaign with downtown baseball before imposing fines.

Next steps: the council directed staff to begin with signage and outreach, observe the summer season, and return with data on how a permit program operates in practice before implementing enforcement fines or broader mandatory requirements.