North Joaquin parking plan on hold

PROVO — A proposal to require parking permits in the North Joaquin neighborhood has stalled again.

The Provo City Council on Tuesday pushed back the start of the permit program until Sept. 1, 2011, because the student housing project, Joaquin Village, that precipitated the permit program wasn't built this summer as planned in February 2008 when the parking ordinance was passed. The program had been scheduled to take effect Sept. 1.

BYU students complained to the council Tuesday about the lack of parking south of the campus which has led to cars being ticketed and towed. They also complained that BYU failed to represent students' plight to the city.

The Student Provo City Alliance attempts to do that, Councilwoman Sherrie Hall Everett said, but the transient nature of students sometimes results in breakdowns in communication.

The City Council discussed joint funding of a position to help bridge that gap, possibly involving both BYU and Utah Valley University.

"BYU should have a permanent place at the table," Councilman Steve Turley said of negotiations that involve the school.

Another proposal to impose a $25 per year parking permit fee to go with the parking plan was also put off.

The plan would have limited parking on the streets in the North Joaquin neighborhood, which stretches from 500 North to 800 North, just south of BYU, and from University Avenue to 900 East.

Under the plan, only neighborhood residents — including students — would get permits to park overnight on those streets between Sept. 1 and April 30.

Developer Wayne Ross said he may get funding to start construction of the apartment complex on the site of the former San Joaquin Elementary School within a year. Ross said he missed his opportunity to get funding because of delays in getting agreements with BYU to resolve the parking issues. The school approved it as student housing, then withdrew the approval and then OK'd it again with the city's parking plan.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com