The City of Hollister has added or clarified parking restrictions near Sunnyslope and Gabilan Hills schools and on Ladd Lane, where large trucks have made it a habit of parking in the pedestrian right-of-way.
This week, the Hollister City Council amended an ordinance governing stopping, standing and parking on specific streets, including near the two schools, where road improvements were made recently.
The installation of a raised median on Memorial Drive near Sunnyslope School prohibits left turns out of the school parking lot and has narrowed the width of the roadway, leaving no room for on-street parking. The updated ordinance clarifies that parking is not permitted there, according to David Rubcic, senior civil engineer for the city.
The city also recently improved Santa Ana Road near Gabilan Hills School with the installation of striping to help control traffic flow in and out of the school for student pick-up and drop-off, Rubcic said. Here, too, the roadway has been narrowed so that there is not enough room for on-street parking.
“It’s pretty well marked already,” Rubcic said, noting that the revised ordinance is meant to clarify the rules for drivers and help the police department enforce the rules.
“Portions of these roadways have been previously marked as ‘No Parking’ or ‘No Stopping,'” Rubcic said in his report to the city council. “Therefore, impact will be minimal to the motoring public.”
On Ladd Lane, south of the Kmart shopping center and near an undeveloped lot on the west side of the road, large trucks have made it a habit of parking along an un-curbed section – often blocking pedestrian access. The updated ordinance prohibits this practice and will include the installation of signage.
“Semis have been parking on that dirt patch along the incomplete sections of the street behind Kmart, which is causing a problem,” Rubcic said, adding that some stop there before making deliveries while others have used the portion of roadway for overnight parking. “Many have been parking on top of the asphalt pathway, and that’s not the correct place for trucks to be parking.”
As a result of the ordinance update, Rubcic said signs will be installed or relocated and curbs painted red where appropriate at “minimal cost.”
