The orange-yellow line shows the city’s proposed parking zone restriction area at the neighborhoods south of Kentridge High School. COURTESY GRAPHIC, City of Kent

The orange-yellow line shows the city’s proposed parking zone restriction area at the neighborhoods south of Kentridge High School. COURTESY GRAPHIC, City of Kent

City of Kent still figuring out parking restriction plan

Signs scheduled to go up this fall in Kentridge, Mill Creek neighborhoods

The city of Kent expects to implement new parking restrictions Sept. 1 in the Mill Creek neighborhood and three residential areas south of Kentridge High School.

City staff continue to change details of the restrictions but plans to return either March 18 or April 1 to the City Council’s Public Works Committee to recommend approval of the new ordinance.

The restricted parking signs in Mill Creek will target Sounder train commuters who park on streets in the neighborhood because they cannot find a spot in the Kent Station garage,which fills up early in the morning. Residents complained to the city about so many cars filling up the streets. City staff recommend commuters use the James Street Park & Ride lot, 902 W. James St., rather than the neighborhood.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Sound Transit plans to build a new parking garage at East James Street and Railroad Avenue North for train commuters, with approximately 530 spaces, but that isn’t scheduled to open until 2023.

Kentridge students who don’t get to the school parking lot, 12430 SE 208th St., before it fills up use the streets in the Glencarin Division I, Shadow Run and Jason Lane neighborhoods just south of the school.

“We’ve had discussion for a better part of two years for this (Kentridge) issue and other parking issues in Mill Creek,” said Councilman Dennis Higgins, chair of the Public Works Committee.

The council twice has pulled the parking ordinance off meeting agendas. Council members removed the item Feb. 19 after residents near Kentridge showed up to tell the council they wanted permits so they could park on the streets. The restrictions would be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays from September through June to keep students from parking on the streets.

City staff won’t charge for the permits, but it has yet to be determined how many permits each resident in the Kentridge and Mill Creek neighborhoods will receive. They also will receive temporary tags for guests who visit. The proposed ordinance included each home receiving four window decals to park in the restricted zone and 15 hang tag visitor permits. But members of the Public Works Committee had concerns that number might be too many permits.

Residents who live near Kentridge told the council last month they don’t want the permit limit so high that streets fill up from homes that have numerous vehicles.

“Let’s have complete clarity on that,” Higgins said about the number of permits when the ordinance comes back to the committee.

The committee had been scheduled to vote on the ordinance March 4, but city staff asked for a delay so it could get feedback about a change in the Mill Creek restrictions.

Rather than no parking signs seven days a week, 24 hours a day, city staff proposed to limit parking in Mill Creek from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays when commuters park in the area.

“We’ve had a change, so we want to do some outreach to the neighborhood,” said Rob Brown, city transportation engineering manager.

Toni Azzola, the city’s neighborhood program coordinator, will reach out to Mill Creek residents to see if they are fine with the planned change in parking hour restrictions, Public Works Director Tim LaPorte said.

The 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. restriction could be enforced better by Kent Police because a newly hired second parking enforcement officer will work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, LaPorte said after talking with Police Chief Rafael Padilla. The council approved hiring a second officer this year to enforce the new neighborhood restrictions. Violators could face a $50 ticket and may be towed.

It will cost the city about $45,000 to install 75 new signs in the Kentridge neighborhoods. The cost is about $25,000 for 35 signs in Mill Creek.

The city also will add new parking restrictions along West Smith Street between 64th Avenue South and Washington Avenue North. Business owners requested the parking limits so spots open up. The city will install signs that limit parking to four hours. That will cost about $10,000 for 20 signs.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

A look at the Mill Creek streets impacted by a proposed new city of Kent parking restriction zone. COURTESY GRAPHIC, City of Kent

A look at the Mill Creek streets impacted by a proposed new city of Kent parking restriction zone. COURTESY GRAPHIC, City of Kent

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Two men face murder charges in 2024 Covington shooting

Incident reportedly started over a stolen bong; 18-year-old man fatally shot

State Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines. COURTESY PHOTO, Legislative Support Services
33rd District Community Town Hall set for Saturday, March 15

Meet Sen. Tina Orwall and Reps. Mia Gregerson and Edwin Obras to ask questions and discuss issues

FILE PHOTO
Sophia Sappa, left, the sister of Gabriel Coury, and their parents Michael and Shellie Coury at a 2023 vigil for Gabriel in Kent. He was killed along 132nd Avenue SE after being struck by a vehicle while riding his scooter.
Project aims to reduce vehicle crashes along deadly corridor

Traffic safety campaign targets 140th/132nd Avenue SE corridor in Renton, Kent, Auburn

t
Kent Police Blotter: Feb. 24 to March 11

Incidents include stolen vehicles, employee theft, police pursuit, shooting

t
Proposal to raise pay for Kent mayor, City Council members

Each scheduled to receive 3.6% cost-of-living increase; mayor’s pay would jump to $219,720 per year

State Rep. Debra Enteman, D-Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Debra Enteman
Debate heats up over Ferguson’s request for $100M to hire more police

House bill sponsored by Kent Rep. Debra Entenman says more than just more officers needed

t
Emphasis patrols in Kent over the weekend lead to arrests

Focus on areas with high crime activity on the East Hill, West Hill and in the Valley

t
Kent Mayor Ralph fights for right to raise sales tax

She says Legislature should help reward Kent for its strong economic impact on state

Photo courtesy of Katherine Haman
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff clean up Caspian tern carcasses during the bird flu outbreak on Rat Island in Jefferson County, 2023.
How to navigate the bird flu in Washington state

“This looks like it might be the new normal,” said Chris Anderson, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Courtesy Photo, King County
Kent man sentenced for killing man who had affair with his girlfriend

Receives 18 years in prison for 2022 stabbing inside Des Moines apartment

t
Kent picks Scenic Hill’s ‘Sabella’ Curtis as Teacher of the Year

Kindergarten teacher says every student ‘deserves a dynamic, engaging and nurturing environment

t
Kent Mayor Dana Ralph to seek third four-year term

Ralph first elected mayor in 2017 and reelected in 2021