Mundelein mulls unusual overnight parking rule
Mundelein officials have developed an unusual plan to reduce overnight street parking in the village.
People would be asked to park on the side of the street with odd-numbered houses between 3 and 5 a.m. on odd-numbered dates, and on the even side of the street for those two hours on even-numbered dates.
Mayor Steve Lentz announced the proposal during Monday night's village board meeting. Trustees could vote on the plan Oct. 26.
The proposal isn't as strict as the overnight parking ban Police Chief Eric Guenther proposed this summer. Guenther said a ban during certain hours could minimize auto burglaries and improve fire trucks' access to emergencies in residential areas, among other benefits.
But after some residents criticized the plan at a public meeting in July, officials went back to the drawing board.
Overnight parking bans are common in the suburbs. Mundelein police surveyed 38 towns and found only six that don't have overnight restrictions, Guenther said.
Alternate-side parking schemes are relatively rare, however. Elgin, Hanover Park and Waukegan are among the few suburbs with such plans in place, Guenther said.
Lentz said he proposed the idea for Mundelein after one resident suggested it in an email and another mentioned it during an informal gathering.
"It seemed like this was something we ought to look into," Lentz said.
Guenther called the alternate-side parking plan a compromise.
"This still accomplishes some of the things we were hoping to get done," he said. "It eliminates some of the congestion on the roadway, so it's easier for emergency vehicles to get through in overnight hours. (And) it will remove some vehicles from the roadway. Some people will simply just park their cars in their driveway because it's easier."
The proposed alternate-side rules would be in effect for most parts of the village.
Specially crafted rules for some neighborhoods, such as those that have resident-only street parking, would trump the odd/even policy. The street parking bans in some neighborhoods would continue, too.
Guenther expects enforcement would begin a few weeks after a vote, if the plan passes.
"We'll have a grace period for enforcement so people have time to learn exactly how this ordinance operates," he said.
More information about the proposal will be published on the village's website before the Oct. 26, vote, Lentz said. That meeting is set for 7 p.m. at village hall, 300 Plaza Circle.
People who want to share their opinion about the plan can attend the meeting or send an email to info@mundelein.org, Lentz said.
"We appreciate their input," he said. "We want to hear from them."