Celebration keeps on-street parking
Osceola official’s suggestion to ban the practice drew fire
CELEBRATION — Residents of this Disney-created community can relax. Onstreet parking won’t be banned after all.
Fears arose in Celebration in March after Osceola County’s deputy fire chief said firefighters were complaining that parked cars on the narrow streets made it difficult for fire trucks to respond to emergencies. He suggested a ban on street parking, which riled residents who said families with several cars or visitors had no other option than to park in front of their homes.
Narrow streets and cul-desacs weave through the community. One and two-car garages are accessed by alleyways behind homes, where parking isn’t allowed.
Deputy County Manager Brenda Knight said this week at a County Commission meeting that the county wouldn’t eliminate the street parking. Instead, officials have decided to crack down on motorists who park too close to stop signs or on both sides of the street.
“It’s recognition from the county that there is no need to change what was approved several decades ago,” said longtime resident Floyd McCollum, who also sits on the board for the community development district. “At least we’re now on the same page."
The neighborhood of about 10,000 residents was built on what was then Disney property south of the theme parks and east of Interstate 4 in the 1990s. The Urban Land Institute named it the New Community of the Year in 2001. Celebration became part of the county in 1994.
In driving around the neighborhood, the county’s community development administrator Dave Tomek said it was evident some residents park too close to stop signs, which creates even tighter turns for bulky emergency vehicles.
Portions of some curbs in Celebration could be painted yellow to signal “no parking,” he said.
“One of the biggest issues is retraining folks to park consistent with the designated parking spots,” Tomek said. “We want to do it in a way that
won’t destroy its character, but alert them where not to park.”
The changes follow a story the Orlando Sentinel published in March about the concerns of residents and the deputy fire chief. At the time, both sides indicated a goal to reach a compromise — something residents say is a relief to finally reach.
McCollum, who walks and bikes the neighborhood, said the street parking as well as trees that line roads help create a barrier that keeps cars farther from pedestrians and slows vehicles down.
Steve Waring, executive director of the residents’ association, thanked commissioners Monday after hearing the county’s parking plan, while also delivering a petition with more than 1,500 signatures from residents protesting the change. He said he was in favor of the added enforcement if people were parking improperly.
“The residents here in Celebration are very solution oriented,” he said. “They want to collaborate and work together.”
McCollum said homeowners had several discussions with county officials over the past few months. Tomek was appointed as a liaison last month, and an agreement was reached.
“It was a little disappointing … that it took so long,” McCollum said.“But at least the outcome is what we hoped for.”