BUENA PARK : No Action Taken on Parking Complaint

Cyndee Allen lives across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm. It’s too close for comfort, she says.

Allen and her neighbors on Adams Way have complained to city officials about visitors and employees from Knott’s Berry Farm and the Buena Park Hotel, who they say park cars on neighborhood streets and litter, loiter and make noise.

But the City Council voted 3 to 0 Tuesday against establishing permit parking zones on Adams Way, Jackson Way and Haldor Place.

A city survey of households on those streets showed overwhelming opposition to the change. “The majority of people there do not want permit parking,” Councilwoman Donna L. Chessen said. “I need to go along with the majority view.”

Chessen suggested forming a task force composed of residents and theme park and hotel representatives to solve the parking concerns.

But some residents weren’t satisfied. “It stinks. They didn’t solve our problem,” said Cay Hodge, who lives on Adams Way. “We’re back to ground zero.”

Allen said the council was stalling. “We have thrown so many suggestions, and they still say they’re at a loss (for a solution),” she said. “Now it’s going to be up to us.”

Hodge said the city could place large, temporary signs on nearby residential streets when the theme park and hotel hold special events, warning visitors to park elsewhere.

Both Hodge and Allen want permit parking but believe that residents shouldn’t have to pay for the vehicle decal. Some residents said they would be willing to pay a reasonable, onetime fee for a sticker.

No specific fee for a parking permit was proposed by the city. However, the survey mentioned that La Habra charges $15 for an annual permit.

“That’s an expensive permit,” because most households have two cars and would require two permits, Hodge said.

Mayor Rhonda J. McCune said the city could not establish permit parking without charging a fee.

Residents who live on Jackson Way opposed the permit parking, saying it was unnecessary because they don’t experience the same problems as homeowners on Adams Way. But council members included other area streets in the survey because motorists would probably park on Jackson Way and Haldor Place if parking restrictions were placed on Adams Way.