HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 06-20 Council grapples with mall parking THE REVIEW Jlinnesota :r Single Copy 3N WED.,JUNE 20, 1979
Council
with
mall
parking
By MELANIE WAAGE was not consistent for the purpose of the the problem is the theater's to relieve the
amended parking ordinance, a belief burden on the Maplewood police for
Providing adequate parking for which was not shared by the full council. parking violations. "Lets not fool around
businesses in the Maplewood Mall Speaking for Homart Development with this, let's make sure those illegally
perimeter area immerged as the issue at Inc.,owner of the landon which the Pizza parked cars get towed away," Wiegert
a recent meeting of the Maplewood city Hut and Big Ben restaurants are to be said.
council. constructed, and the land leased by Mayor Greavu said the illegally
d
United Artists' Movies at Maplewood, cars should be towed, and heavy fines
DESPITE RECOMMENDATIONS Bob Johnson appeared at the June 7 imposed.
from staff, council approved the con- council meeting to respond to questions Lais told the council they would have to
struction of two restaurants, Pizza Hut about traffic problems generated by the attach an agreement to the plan review,
and Big Ben,in an area east of the mall theater. in order to enforce UA hiring a parking
and west of Wendy's Restaurant, "United Artists is supposed to maintain attendant.
currently under construction. people on the property to control traffic in The council suggested they require the
In making its recommendation that the lease agreement between UA and theater to place towing signs at fire lanes,
only one of these developments be ap- Homart Development, the lessee," Don and signs directing patrons to additional
proved, staff pointed out that such con- Lais, city attorney, said. "But, the city parking.
struction would reduce the already can't enforce their agreement." Lt. Dennis Cusick of the Maplewood
inadequate number of parking spaces Lais told the council he wasn't sure just Police said enforcement costs would
available for The Movies at Maplewood. what their rights were to curtail theater- come back to the taxpayers, and should
In an attempt to solve theater parking goers parking in non-theater parking be avoided."When an officer has to go out
problems, the council approved an areas. But, he did say that Homart on a call at the theaters, and write a
amendment to the off-street parking Development should enforce the ticket,it costs taxpayers money,"Cusick
ordinance, increasing the number of agreement with UA requiring a parking said. "There is an undue amount of police
parking spaces required. Originally, attendant. service up in that area."
theaters and a group of places of public In dealing with a potential parking
assembly were required to have one JOHNSON agreed and assured council problem the city council added the
parking space for every 12 seats. Now he would insist UA employees enforcedstipulation to the approval of the plan
they must have three spaces for every 12 the fire lanes parking ban. "The theater review for the Big Ben and Pizza Hut
seats. has leased five acres from us, and we've Restaurants that Homart Development
The amendment was adopted after staff taken some back," Johnson said, be required to place towing signs in the
surveyed six communities,all of who had referring to the land to be used for the fire lanes, at owners' expense, and signs
higher parking requirements than proposed restaurants. "They had one directing patrons to additional parking.
Maplewood's. parking spot per four seats in the original In unanimously approving
STAFF also told the council that ap- lease, because that's what we (Homart) restaurants' plan review, action will
proval of both proposedrestaurants would require for movie theaters. We would try make contiguous the parking lots of The
not only increase parking problems but to have them furnish a parking at- Movies at Maplewood,Pizza Hut,Big Ben
add to existing traffic congestion. Fur- tendant."
ther,staff maintained that council action Councilman Don Wiegert told Johnson Child en s tWorldndy 's Restaurant and