County Council Helps Residents near Convention Center with Parking Woes

Large crowds attracted to weekend events at the City of St. Charles' Convention Center will no longer be able to park on the adjacent, unincorporated neighborhood streets around the facility, thanks to a plan passed by the County Council.

Councilwoman Patti York sponsored the measure requiring parking permits in an eight-block area behind the convention center.

"It feels great to have worked on this legislation," York says. "Several council members and staff all got involved. This is going to work, and it's only on the weekend. During the week, people can park wherever they want. Most of the big Convention Center events are on the weekends."

Under the bill, cars without permits will either be ticketed or towed if they park on the eight streets between 8 a.m. Friday mornings and 8 p.m. Sunday nights. Each household in the area can get up to four free parking permits, which can be used for residents or their visitors. Households may also request an extra two parking permits for $10 each, if they can show "good cause with valid supporting reasons."

The council unanimously approved the plan Sept. 29 after a petition warned that parking on the streets could hinder fire, ambulance or other first responders getting to houses. Those concerns and reports of convention goers blocking driveways or access to homes resulted in months of complaints from nearby residents who spoke out at council meetings.

York thanked the residents who came to the council meetings to ask for help.

"I think people coming every meeting and saying this is a problem helped," York says. "I think you have to birddog it. They know we are hearing them. I love it when people come up and say, 'I got an idea for you.'"

Enforcement will be handled by the St. Charles County Police, which has already been writing tickets and towing cars violating existing "no-parking" signs in the same area.

One patrol, the weekend of Sept. 5-7, officers wrote 25 tickets and towed 10 cars.

County Executive Steve Ehlmann plans to sign the legislation into law, and it could be enforced as soon as residents get their permits.

The eight streets where parking permits will be enforced are: Moonridge Drive, Clearview Drive, Beverly Drive, Barbara Drive, South Drive, Dennis Drive, Christine Drive, and Valley Road from South Drive to Dale.