Council halts new residential parking rules

The City Council voted Monday to halt the creation of new “residential parking permit areas” for six months or until Albuquerque can strengthen the enabling ordinance, whichever is sooner.

Currently, Albuquerque residents can petition the city to limit on-street parking in their neighborhoods as long as 51% of people who live on the street agree. In those areas, only residents with city-issued permits can park on the street.

But the new resident-supported parking restrictions on two North Valley streets near the Rio Grande bosque — Trellis Drive and Decker Road — have thrust the practice into the spotlight.

Trellis and Decker are farther north than any existing residential parking permit areas.

Until now, they were mostly concentrated around Downtown and the University of New Mexico campus.

While people who live on Trellis contend bosque-goers are causing traffic and congestion in their neighborhood, opponents of the restrictions say they will reduce public access to the bosque and could have a snowball effect if nearby streets start seeking the same designation.

Councilor Isaac Benton has proposed amending city ordinance to ensure the city conducts a broader assessment of community needs before creating new residential parking permit areas. Those changes are winding through the legislative process. In the meantime, the council voted Monday to stop enforcement of the Trellis/ Decker restrictions and to halt the creation of new residential parking permit areas.

The council approved the moratorium — which will last six months or until ordinance amendments are enacted — on a 7-0 vote, with Councilors Cynthia Borrego and Klarissa Peña absent.