Palatine ban on overnight street parking will continue

Palatine officials made clear their intention to continue the ban on overnight street parking, much to one landlord's dismay.

For the past year, the owners of the Eagle Town apartment complex on Rose Avenue have fought for an exception due to a shortage of about 15 spaces. There are currently 120 spaces for 78 units, most of which are two bedrooms.

On Monday, the village council voted 5-2 against Eagle Town's request they be allowed to implement a parking permit system allowing cars to park overnight on the west side of Rose Avenue.

"We feel the on-street parking diminishes the integrity of neighborhoods," Village Manager Reid Ottesen said. "That's why throughout the village we don't allow it. That's why we're not interested in expanding here."

Instead, officials agreed to allow overnight street parking on Rose Avenue until July 2010 in order to give owners time to come up with a solution.

Guzaldo said he just wants the same privilege afforded to his neighbors.

He argued overnight street parking is allowed at three-flat units on nearby Lilly Lane and Capri Drive. However, Ottesen explained, those buildings had established an overnight parking program with Cook County before the area was annexed into the village of Palatine in 1999. Eagle Town was not included in that program.

Palatine officials also said that there is plenty of open space within the complex to build a parking lot.

"Adding 15 parking spots with this much green space is something simple to do," Councilman Scott Lamerand said. "You have a way to solve your own problem tonight."

Councilmen Dan Varroney and Jack Wagner were sympathetic toward Guzaldo's financial plight. Eagle Town has lost about $600,000 over the last decade, Guzaldo said, but he and his partners have put in about $500,000 worth of repairs and maintenance. Spending $30,000 to $50,000 to build another parking lot would be difficult.

"I don't think we're asking for a lot," Guzaldo said, adding he's never received a complaint from neighbors about cars parking overnight.