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Township parking consultant warns Saturday peak could eliminate modeled parking margin
Summary
The township's parking consultant told the board that applicant charts underestimate peak weekend demand and employee/firefighter parking needs, potentially forcing spillover into residential streets; the consultant recommended the board require reconciled counts and clearer signage before approval.
Jerry Giosa, the township parking consultant, told the Planning Board he found the applicant's parking graphics accurate but incomplete because they omitted other demand categories—employee parking, firefighters who sometimes parked on the site, and the Bellevue Theatre's patron demand.
"They're not incorrect, but they're incomplete because they do not include these other carried categories of demand," Giosa said, and he noted that the applicant's Saturday counts showed little or no excess capacity in nearby lots during peak periods. Giosa cautioned that reliance on ParkMobile daily purchases and distant paid lots could push short‑term users into neighborhood streets.
Giosa recommended the board ask for reconciled, lot‑by‑lot counts and for clarity about permit versus metered spaces in Bellevue Erie before the board relies on the 263‑space inner catchment figure. He also flagged that on Saturdays the available capacity is thin or non‑existent in the modeled lots, which increases the risk of spillover.
Board members directed the applicant to reconcile counts, show where staff and employees will park, and explore whether easements or formal agreements are necessary for continued use of municipal lots. The applicant agreed to provide the requested clarifications before the Sept. 14 continuation.
