What’s one more parking problem?

What is really going on at Aliso Shopping Center? Some say the

parking is horrendous, some say it’s just more crowded than usual

with people who get out of their cars and, instead of shopping, head

to the beach. Others say they just don’t have a problem finding a

spot there, ever. But all say they’re sure things will get worse in

the summer.

So, what’s the cause? Easy conclusion: Before the resort, no

problem, after the resort, problem. But, though it may be hard for

some to side with the Montage Resort and Spa, let’s at least be fair

in our criticism.

The developers of the resort allotted a certain amount of space

for guests, visitors and employees. From most accounts, the allotted

space, especially with the temporary addition of two nearby lots, is

enough for those people.

So, if Montage customers and employees have enough spaces, what’s

causing the increased traffic at the center? Could it be all the

people who are visiting the park hard fought for by residents, along

with the beachgoers enjoying the new access and avoiding the meters?

Not to mention a few Montage visitors who just don’t want to pay for

parking.

Illegal or not, most people will do what they can to both get free

parking and not have to return to the meters with their fistful of

quarters.

This isn’t shocking. The city should have seen this coming. New

beach access, big parking lot. Access, parking lot. Hmmmmm. Sure, the

environmental report and the independent studies gave a certain

number for parking needs, but what did logic say? What did the

neighbors say?

You can build all the metered parking and pay-to-park lots you

want, but if it’s free, folks will give it a try. Unfortunately, if

the goal is to help out the businesses at the center, the answer will

be to police the lots. It’s not a pleasant prospect, and it will be

the center’s own responsibility.

Center owners said that beginning Thursday, cars parked for more

than two hours would be towed. They said they will also hire an

attendant to monitor parking.

So, if beach- and park-goers are kept out of the center, where

will they park? That’s where the city comes in. First of all, there

will never be enough parking to meet the desire of all the people who

want to visit the area, but they’re going to make an effort to meet

some of the need and try to keep people from parking in surrounding

neighborhoods. The city took steps Tuesday toward placing meters on

Wesley Drive. Also, the city has halted development on two nearby

lots in order to use them, at least temporarily, for employee

parking. The Montage is reportedly looking into buying the lot across

the street.

In early March, all construction on the lots was put on hold for

at least 45 days, and the moratorium may be extended. The owner of

the old Unocal site had already submitted the project plans to the

city. The action was taken under the city’s urgency ordinance. That

tactic allows the city to make changes if necessary and requires a

four-fifths majority of the council.

This is hardly an ideal solution. It seems quite unfair to make

that developer pay for the city’s shortsightedness, but it might be

worth it in the long run to buy that land and turn it into parking.

It would be great if we could just have it be more open space, but

with the park and the Pacific Ocean and a crowded shoreline, pockets

for parking are a must. We hope the city won’t just use the land

indefinitely, but will purchase it at some point.

Whatever the solution, the city will have to be a part of it. It

may even learn from this that doing the minimum while defying logic

isn’t the best way to go.