Gurnee OKs permit parking near Six Flags

The Gurnee village board passed a resolution it hopes will stop Six Flags Great America visitors from crowding the parking spaces at a nearby subdivision.

Board members voted to create parking permits for residents around the southwest section of the Pembrook townhouse and condominium development in a move to free up the neighborhood streets.

Village Administrator James Hayner said residents of the development turned to the village for help.

"It's a significant problem and needed to be addressed," Hayner said.

Officials of the village said the streets of the subdivision have been overrun with vehicles of those looking to escape the $15-per-day fee or $70 for the season to park in the Six Flags Great America lot.

The permits will be required for anyone parking on Rockpointe Court, but legitimate visitors to the neighborhood will be able to park with a temporary permit issued to residents.

Residents on the street, which is one block from Six Flags Great America, will be issued a parking sticker that Hayner said he plans to order this week.

The resolution will turn the block into a tow zone for anyone without a pass and will enable the village to ticket violators $50.

Hayner said the development has a clubhouse many residents use for events such as birthday parties that visitors have not been able to find parking for.

"If you have a Saturday event at the clubhouse, and all the parking is filled with people that aren't supposed to be parking there, then we are going to need to remove them," Hayner said.

The new tow zone will be effective Aug. 12.

Permit: Tow zone effective Aug. 12