Furor is growing among residents of a Kyle neighborhood who expressed frustrations to the Kyle City Council last week about Lehman High students parking in residential areas.
But two proposals attempting to fix the issue were both denied by Kyle City Council members, leaving Kyle city officials to find ways to alleviate the issue, which encompasses several streets in the Southlake Ranch Estates subdivision.
Homeowners in the neighborhood who spoke on the matter April 18 said students who park on the street make it difficult for residents to back-out of their driveways or have guests over.
City officials considered issuing permits for residents and prohibiting parking of non-permitted vehicles on Brutus Drive, Orion Cove, Casper Cove, and Lake Washington Drive from the Goforth intersection to the Town Lake Bend intersection.
However, city council members voted not to approve the proposal due to various concerns.
“For years now, we’ve had input from citizens that had been concerned about the parking that has occurred in their community ... People wanted to be able to entertain guests, or to park their own vehicles in front of their houses.”
Jeff Barnett, Kyle Police Chief
Wanting to know why students parked in residential areas, police officers talked with students as they walked to and from school.
Officers believed students could not pay the fee for a school parking permit, or didn’t have a Driver’s License or car insurance. However, Barnett discovered that was not the case.
“They actually said it was to avoid the afternoon traffic jam so they could get to their afternoon jobs and to get home,” Barnett said.
Officers met with Lehman High School’s principal and parking officials, as well as Hays County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement working on campus.
“We tried to work with the school district to try to encourage any program that could entice the students to use the school parking lot,” Barnett said.
Police officers cannot tell students they are not allowed to park there, Barnett said.
“We don’t have the authority to do that,” Barnett said. “The city streets belong to all citizens, whether they live there or not, unless other rules are put into place.”
To solve the issue, officials proposed restricting on-street parking during school hours on school days, excluding weekends and holidays, unless the driver has obtained a permit.
Under the proposals, residents have to provide proof of residency and proof of vehicle ownership to obtain two permits for free and up to two more for $5 each at the police department.
“It’s a tough decision but I think this [proposal] is the one that’s going to solve the problem,” Barnett said. “We know this will stop it, students won’t be able to park in front of the homes.”
However, city council members denied the proposal and asked Barnett and city officials to consider the issue further.
“While I think this is a good starting talking point, I don’t think it’s quite there,” said Councilmember Daphne Tenorio. “This ordinance, while it’s a good starting point, is restricting.”
Tenorio said the consensus of a neighborhood meeting at Lehman High School was signage prohibiting parking on one side of the road.
“We’re completely losing sight of what our citizens asked for,” Tenorio said.
City council members voted 5-0 to not approve the proposal.
“We need to think about this very carefully,” said Councilmember David Wilson. “I want us to come up with an option everyone is comfortable with.”
Tenorio said she would like another public meeting to receive resident input.
“We certainly want to do what the community wants, we’re not trying to overreach and impose something that’s not what they want,” Barnett said.
