Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: An Old Town fix on fines Date: Sun, 15 Nov 92 16:56:27 EST Message-ID: \SE A;METROPOLITAN \HD An Old Town fix on fines \SH Parking penalties take easier street \BY Kristan Metzler \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Driven by complaints from Old Town businesses and customers, the Alexandria City Council yesterday loosened strict parking restrictions in the historic district. The council unanimously voted to reduce residential district parking fines from $50 to $35 and to end meter enforcement after 7 p.m. rather than 11 p.m. The new restrictions were effective immediately. Two dozen business owners and employees packed into council chambers to support city leaders' decision to change strict parking regulations before the holiday season. "These adjustments are needed now because the Christmas season is upon us," said Ray Lewis, a business representative on the parking committee and on the board of directors of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. Yesterday's vote was a compromise between business owners and residents, who argued that business employees and customers snatched up limited neighborhood parking spaces. Anna Moore of the Old Town Parking Committee said the $50 fine should be maintained for a time, while the rules could be studied. "Residents are entitled to some insurance that they have parking in front of their homes," she said. Tickets written have nearly doubled over last year since the laws were passed. The council also unanimously agreed yesterday to allow more development at Potomac Yard - formalizing a decision made last month in hopes of killing the plan to build a stadium for the Washington Redskins at the defunct rail yard on Route 1. Several state legislators, who hold an interest in the land owned by RF&P Corp. - a subsidiary of the Virginia Retirement System - said the council limited the land's use too severely in June, when it approved 9 million square feet of development. The council - fearing that lawmakers would snatch the city's zoning authority over the property - amended the plan, allowing up to 12 million square feet of development between the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Route 1. More than a dozen residents spoke against the council's decision to allow more development, saying the council broke promises to limit growth. "Jack Kent Cooke is gone. The stadium is a dead issue. You should not allow yourself to be blackmailed like this," said Rod Kuckro, an Alexandria resident. Council members disagreed. "We made a political decision," said council member David Speck. "We saw the situation. We made the decision that we thought was best for the city." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM