Three parking ordinances that will affect many Ball State University students passed at the Muncie City Council meeting in early June, much to the displeasure of some campus-area residents.
The parking plan will change restrictions on 35 roads near campus, making two-hour parking available on one side from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on 25 of the roads and totally restricting parking on 10 of the roads.
The ordinances were introduced to the Muncie City Council with the support of the University Area Landlord Association, which also helped draft the plan, as well as the Riverside Normal-City Neighborhood Association.
Residents will be able to obtain two parking passes per house, and the passes will be at no cost to residents.
A similar plan was put into effect in Bloomington in 1991.
During the city council meeting, many local residents complained of problems they had at their individual residences with off-street parking, stating that area landlords had only provided them with an area covered in gravel. Also, many nonstudent residents agreed that by not meeting city codes that allot one space to each individual in a residence, landlords are adding to the problem.
City Council member Chuck Leonard said he doesn't believe the landlords are at fault but that Ball State should be taking the blame for the overburdened streets.
"Ball State knows they have X amount of students and X amount of parking spots," Leonard said. "They're not providing places for them. This problem is going to continue until someone totally fixes it."
Landlord association member Eldon Buck said that properties owned by association members were required to meet city housing codes, so it is up to landlords outside of that group to maintain their properties.
"Any time someone joins UALA they have to meet a set of standards," Buck said.
Buck also said that he believes the parking restrictions will increase the efficiency of local code enforcement since they will only have one side of the road to patrol per street, landlord association member Steve Buck agrees with this position.
"Part of the frustration they had before, from my understanding, was that they didn't have the patrols," Steve Buck said. "With the way the parking plan is laid out now, they'll be able to zig-zag through the neighborhood."
The plan took effect on Aug. 15 -- the week before Fall Semester began.
The plan was introduced to decrease noise, trash and air pollution, limit hazards to pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as improve traffic flow.
"It seems like they're pushing cars off the street, but even before, every landlord was allowed one parking pass per residence," Steve Buck said. "The number of parking spots on the street has not changed."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
