Parking in Palatine just got easier

If you're out late in downtown Palatine, it will now be a little easier to park your car.

Officials voted Monday night to ease overnight parking restrictions on the street since many bars and restaurants are open later than parking is allowed.

Currently, the village code prohibits parking on all streets between 1 and 6 a.m. But officials say this doesn't correspond with the hours of operation for a lot of downtown establishments.

"It's created an issue downtown," said Mike Jacobs, assistant village manager.

Now, parking won't be allowed on the streets between 1:30 and 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 3:30 to 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. These times correspond to the liquor license and operational hours for several businesses.

Village councilmen also voted to establish a downtown parking boundary where these regulations will be in place. The area is bound by Palatine Road, Smith Street, Wood Street and Plum Grove Road, as well as the parking deck within the Gateway Center.

Because redevelopment is ongoing in downtown Palatine, elected officials also agreed to let village staff change the parking restrictions if needed without an official council vote.

Such changes would be about parking spot time limits and uses. Now, official approval will not be needed to change spaces to 15-minute or one hour spots, for example, or to make certain spaces for the public, commuters or employees-only.

Officials say this approach would allow a timely response to temporary and long-term parking issues in the downtown and that it would allow for a trial-and-error approach to certain areas.