Costa Mesa council votes for ‘residents only’ parking

The Costa Mesa City Council voted Tuesday to restrict parking to “residents only” in three areas where residents complained apartment dwellers from other nearby streets have been parking in front of their homes.

The parking restrictions will apply to Drake Avenue between St. Clair Street and Sonora Road, St. Clair Street between Bear Street and Velasco Lane, and Capital Street east of Pomona Avenue.

Drake Avenue homeowners told the council that vehicles are abandoned on the street for days or even weeks, so the street sweeper can’t adequately clean around them.

People who live on those streets will be able to get parking permits for themselves and guests.

To gain council approval for parking restrictions, residents must file a petition with the city and a subsequent study must show half of the cars on the street are unrelated to the neighborhood.

— Alicia Robinson