Burlingame officials approve disallowing overnight parking

Officials said the parking limitation is necessary to relieve the frustration many workers and businesses experience due to the inadequate availability left by cars consuming overnight spaces on the street.

Public Works Director Syed Murtuza said the proposal arrived following input offered by local workers, property owners and merchants regarding vehicles occupying street spaces for long stretches of time.

“This will help … some of the existing businesses and also prevent folks from leaving their cars unattended for extended periods,” Murtuza said, according to video of the meeting.

Many of the companies in the area are industrial or automotive businesses, as well as the city’s corp yard and fire station. Street parking for the area can be challenging because many of the properties do not offer enough spaces, which causes overflow, according to a city report.

“This street has packed parking throughout the day including the nighttime and it makes it difficult for many employees who don’t have adequate parking supply on site to find parking,” said Murtuza.

City officials monitoring the area found many cars on the street were recreation vehicles, trailers or cars being serviced which were left for long periods of time, according to a city report. Beyond worsening the parking congestion in the area, some of the vehicles leaked fluids and chemicals which may be harmful to the environment, said the report.

The proposal to establish the parking restriction was examined by the city’s Traffic Safety and Parking Commission late last year, at which time business owners expressed their support.

Some local merchants in the automotive industry advocated for the overnight limitation to be cut from its original, longer proposal to a restriction spanning from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m. The change accommodated concerns raised by business owners who operate overnight services such as car towing, and to assist police in their enforcement.

With the amendments, the commission ultimately approved the proposal and recommended councilmembers take the same action. The change is also expected to help the city’s corp yard accommodate parking needs with respect to the proposed Caltrain paralleling station.

Following her ratifying vote, Councilwoman Emily Beach encouraged officials to stay vigilant in assuring limited parking in this area does not have unintended consequences, such as cars spilling over into surrounding streets.

“Like anything, when we change parking, you affect one small area, it can have ripple effects,” said Beach.

In other business, councilmembers put their final stamp of approval on a decision to overrule the Planning Commission’s denial of an application to install new wireless antennas on existing utility poles near Hillside and Winchester drives.

The decision confirms an initial approval by councilmembers last month to allow the antennas on the utility poles, so long as the equipment is concealed and officials work with neighbors to install a preferred form of solar shielding over the mechanisms.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105