Requesting suggestion for parking (not your typical issue)

I also agree with you that too many cars can spoil a townhouse community. Some of our units have one car attached garages (like mine), but others have assigned parking and there's very limited amount of guest parking spaces (4 instead of your 6). A city street runs through the community and because it's somewhat narrow (similar to what you described), you can't park on one side. this means people sometimes park on the curb (and our grass) on the other side of the street.

And because we are a small community (156 units) built in the early 1970s, we really don't have the room for three and four car families because at that time, the two car family household was really beginning to take off. Unfortunately, the developer didn't plan for two car homes (and a few other things in my opinion) and so today, we're really squeezed. For example, my neighbor has two vehicles (one a large Ford pickup) and two motorcycles. The truck's really too big for the garage and these people are always playing musical chairs to get everything parked.

One thing I would urge you to do is to poll the community as to what it wants to do and how. Our Board recently tried to stiffen parking enforcement by hiring a towing company (I wrote about it in a seperate thread on this website, which you can find somewhere by using the "search" button.) In sum, we made some critical errors and ended up with a mess. However, in a wacky sort of way, we made the point about assigned parking and I haven't heard any complaints about parking since (now when the Board meets next week, it could be a different story.

I understand what you're saying about rules and restrictions - sometimes, things should be a matter of common sense and courtesy rather than having to create rules on EVERYTHING. The other issue is enforcement - if you were to set up a rule or even some type of "honor code", what do you do about the folks that don't care if everyone is inconvienced?

So, you may want to start by checking your CCRs to see if a rule already exists - if so, publish a blurb in the newsletter reminding everyone of this. Tell homeowners congestion can create real problems such as emergency vehicles not being able to get through, delaying medical treatment, stopping a crime in progress or a fire. You might also want to try and identify the most blatent violators (take some time and date stamped photos as evidence) and have your management company (if you have one) send them a friendly reminder.

Along with the newsletter article, run a mini poll asking homeowners what should be done. If they want a formal rule, they should also suggest the best ways to handle violators. Getting a consensus of some sort is always helpful when the Board is considering community rules or even recommending certain things be added to the CCRs (which will require homeowner approval)

I wanted to provide an update to this situation.

I talked to each person using the parking lot and came to an agreement that they will keep the lot open on Sat/Sun for guests. Anybody can use the parking lot during the weekday. I also created an email list so that a homeowner can notify others if he/she is having many guests over.

So far, it has been working pretty good last 3 weekends. The parking lot is quite available during the weekend and is not less occupied during weekdays as well. Let's see how long does this verbal agreement lasts.

Shelia

Once you condone towing, the association is on a very, very slippery slope.

I would rather have neighbors fistfighting it out then get an association involved with towing.

My belief.