Poll: Should the City Stop Bristol Farms Street Parking?

After South Pas resident Denise Durrett found out requires its employees to park on the street, she—and other Patch readers— until the issue is resolved.

“I have never seen the Bristol Farms parking lot completely full,” , whose disabled mother lives in the apartments across the street. “There is absolutely no reason why employees should be forced to park on the street while residents have to remain stranded in their homes and unable to leave.”

Bristol Farms Assistant Store Director Rick Zens says South Pas-based , who owns the property, created this rule—and reminds Bristol Farms employees to enforce it about four times a year.

“Some of the residents have come in and talked to me personally about it,” said Zens. “The landlord has not changed [the rules]. I have notified them.”

While it appears that Kutzer is unwilling to cooperate with area residents, there are some solutions to explore. (Kutzer did not respond to several Patch phone calls.)

In response to Durrett’s , one resident suggested the City install “a few handicapped parking spots only outside the building, and 2-Hour parking only (unless with permit) along the better half of Brent [Street].”

Finding a Balance

Assistant City Manager Sergio Gonzalez says that parking issues such as Durrett's are not new, and that the City's goal “is to work proactively to encourage cooperation between the business community and nearby residents. ... ”

“A private business may chose to set internal policies that encourage or require their employees to not park in the lot so that spaces are more available to customers,” said Gonzalez.

“Apart from parking restrictions related to time constraints, the City does not have specific policies/laws that forbid employers to require their employees to park on public streets,” he continued.    

Gonzalez suggests residents contact the public works department with any parking concerns.

“It may be something that can be handled at a staff level,” he said. “If a policy needs to be addressed, we’ll bring it before council.”