July 22--With tickets failing to keep customers in Orland Park's historic district from nabbing residents' parking spots, village officials are considering stiffer penalties.
A Village Board committee this week voted to recommend that the full board approve a tow zone in part of the Old Orland neighborhood and also set aside space on 143rd Place for a business offering valet parking.
If approved, any vehicle could be towed if it violates parking regulations along 143rd Place from Brook to West avenues, on 144th Street from West Avenue to the viaduct on the north side of the street or on Brook Avenue from 143rd to 144th streets except the east side of Brook north of the alley.
The stretch of 143rd Place in front of D'wan Hookah Lounge, 9925 W. 143rd Place, would be reserved for valet parking between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m. so valet drivers can stage cars before moving them to commuter parking lots or other public parking areas.
Karie Friling, Orland Park's development services director, said village officials held a community meeting last month with Old Orland business owners and homeowners to talk about parking problems.
"It was agreed that it would make sense for D'wan Hookah Lounge to provide valet parking to reduce parking stress," Friling said.
Last year, trustees voted to limit commercial parking to leave more street parking for residents. Anyone parking on 143rd Place, Brook Avenue and 144th Place was required to have a resident or guest parking permit, while business patrons had to seek spots on Union Avenue or, on nights and weekends, in the Metra station lots.
But in a recent report on the parking situation, village staff said parking tickets were still frequently given to vehicles parking in resident-only spots, "indicating citations were not changing parking behavior."
Letting drivers know they're parking in a tow zone should be a stronger deterrent, according to the report.
lzumbach@tribpub.com
