Wheaton discusses parking squeeze

Finding parking in downtown Wheaton can be tough - especially for businesses.

New developments in parts of the city's downtown are required to provide a specified number of spaces. Sometimes, though, that's just not possible. There isn't enough land.

Officials are mulling whether to give businesses another alternative: Paying a fee in lieu of providing actual parking spaces.

In theory, the money would be held in escrow until the city builds more parking, such as the newly opened multilevel garage at Willow Avenue and Cross Street.

Wheaton hired consultants in 2007 to conduct a downtown parking study, and one of their suggestions was to add in-lieu fees for new development. That was before he economy tanked, however.

In discussing whether to proceed with the idea Monday night at a planning meeting, council members raised concerns about the economy and whether developers could afford the fees.

They also wondered how they could create a district in which fees were required when businesses in one part of the downtown area aren't even required to provide parking.

The area officials are discussing for the special parking fee is bounded by Seminary Avenue, Washington Street, Illinois Street and West Street. Only commercial businesses would be affected.

Considering the number of new developments expected in the near future, Councilman Howard Levine pointed out the amount of revenue wouldn't be significant. But every little bit helps, he said.

"Even though it's a drop in the bucket, the alternative is to do nothing and I don't think that's an answer," he said.

The situation and its related problems presented themselves this summer with a proposed development at 302 W. Front St. The one-story retail building is required, based on recommendations from last year's parking study, to provide a total of 10 parking spaces.

While the developer is asking the city to waive that and require only five spots, the city is proposing the business pay a fee equal to $17,000 for each of the remaining parking spaces instead. That amount was gleaned from the per-space cost to build the new parking garage, without including the purchase price of the land.

Based on questions raised by the council, officials plan to rework the proposal further before bringing it back for more discussion.