Fullerton : Residents Hope Permits Solve Parking Problems

Residents living near Cal State Fullerton’s “fraternity row” hope to rid their neighborhood of unwanted visitors with a new parking permit program.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to require permits for cars parked in the area north of fraternity row, which has been an irritant to residents who complained of loud parties, litter and too many cars parked on their streets.

“This is going to nip the problem in the bud,” said Mauna Ekema, administrative assistant for the city. Ekema said the residents’ parking problems do not stem from the Greek houses but from visitors who hang around the area after finding closed doors to the fraternities’ private parties.

If adopted on second reading at the council’s April 16 meeting, the new ordinance will allow one free permit for each car registered to a home, Ekema said. In addition, residents can pick up five guest permits per house and request one-day passes for special occasions, she said. Fraternity houses will not be issued passes.

Last year, about 80 residents signed a petition asking the council to implement a new parking procedure that would eliminate some of the nuisances they have complained about for years.