Some West Side residents want parking permits to keep high school students out

By ABC-7’s Jamie Warren

If you’re a student at Coronado High School and you have a car, chances are you still have to walk to school.

There simply aren’t enough parking spaces on campus to meet the demand of students who drive.

Three buildings now stand where one of the school’s parking lots used to be.

The buildings were completed in 2010, causing a shortage of parking spots.

Residents on those streets are equally frustrated because the limited parking on campus has caused students to park on residential streets.

“I think it would be a good idea to have permits to park in front of the houses,” one neighbor told ABC-7.

That’s exactly what the City will eventually look into in a few weeks.

But while permit parking may stop congestion in the area, some neighbors say that may not be a good idea.

“My concern is if we bring permits in does that mean the City’s going to say I, as a resident, can only get two permits then I have to pay for additional permits?” one neighbor asked.

City officials told ABC-7 if the ordinance passes, each home will get four parking permits — two for residents of the home and two for guests of the home.

The parking permits for residents will cost $10 a year.

As for the students, they feel like they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“That would put hundreds of these kids like they wouldn’t be able to drive their car to school there’d be like nowhere to park,” a Coronado High School student said.

The City will revisit the issue in a few weeks. If an ordinance is passed, neighbors can petition for mandatory parking permits so only they can park on these streets during school hours.