The City of DeKalb is offering residents several additional opportunities to provide input on parking restrictions proposed under the Safe Streets Initiative. On Monday, April 23, City Council will invite public participation as Police Chief Gene Lowery introduces the
third and fourth phases of the Safe Streets Initiative at the 5:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting. Chief Lowery will continue that discussion at a community meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 26, at 7:00 p.m. in the Police Department Community Room. Police Department staff will also be available during the Annie Glidden North (AGN) Revitalization Plan community meeting scheduled for Monday, April 16, from 6:30p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 830 N. Annie Glidden Road.Phase Three: No Parking 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., West of Annie Glidden
Phase Three would establish no parking zones from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. west of Annie Glidden Road (shown in the blue on the map found here). This phase would help to curtail overnight parking by non-residents in areas with public safety concerns.
Phase Four: No Parking 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., East of Annie Glidden Road; Establishment of Resident Parking Areas
A future ordinance would establish the 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. parking restrictions east of Annie Glidden Road in the remaining areas shown in red on the attached map found here. Additionally, it would be recommended to couple this with a resident parking permit process on a limited basis in this area. The recommendation for this phase at this time would be to have a process for building owners to come forward and demonstrate the unit count for their respective buildings, as well as the off-street parking availability at their property.These counts would be verified by City site visits. If the available off-street parking fails to meet the minimum parking requirements of the City’s Unified Development Ordinance (0.5 spaces per unit and 1.0 spaces per bedroom), then a limited number of resident parking permits would be available on a first-come, first-served basis for that building (with the number equaling the difference between the available spaces at the location and the number that would be required under the UDO). It would be recommended to evaluate the appropriate locations for such resident parking areas. The recently acquired property at 912 Edgebrook would be one ideal location with some lighting improvements. The City is also exploring collaboration with Northern Illinois University and other institutional property owners in the area (such as churches).
The Safe Streets Initiative is a multi-faceted strategy to reduce crime in the AGN neighborhood. Through a four-phase plan, various parking restrictions are proposed that will create enhanced visibility and improved first responder access in the neighborhood.
The Police Department has undertaken significant efforts to inform the community and solicit feedback throughout the first two phases of this initiative, which have been
approved by City Council. Efforts to engage the community on the final two phases are being launched now to allow for the input of Northern Illinois University students before the end of the academic year.
We encourage those who are not able to attend one of these meetings to visit the Safe Streets Initiative page on the City’s website here. On that page, there is a form to send input directly to the Police Department.
If you have any questions regarding any of the listed meetings, please contact Raymond Munch in the City Manager’s Office at (815) 748-2392
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4 Comments
How does this make the streets safer?
I wondered how the feedback was going. This does not apply to my neighborhood (yet), but I did read the proposal. Extending the police’s access to my personal business (likely guests in my home) is just WAY over the line, it seems to me. I’m long past the point of trusting local law enforcement. Sad to say, since I’m related to some of them. But there it is.
If you are not included in any of the currently revealed Safe Streets Initiative, take heart, you too will eventually be given the opportunity to pay an annual fee to park in front of your own home as well as provide the PD with detailed information regarding your guests who wish to park on your street.
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sounds like “Security Theater” to me