Description
City market is by far the most dangerous and inadequate parking lot in the state of Vermont. There are not enough and many are inadequately sized. On top of it they sometimes block spaces for things - today it was to sell smoothies. I haven't pulled any permits to confirm but I can't believe that (1) they presy comply with the ordinance as to parking requirements; and if they are due to some variance, that they can block additional spaces at its holding hat further limits the already inadequate number of spaces and makes a seriously dangerous situation even more dangerous.
16 Comments
Closed Lauren Berrizbeitia (Registered User)
IT Department (Verified Official)
Reopened Dave (Registered User)
Acknowledged Permitting and Inspections (Verified Official)
Keep in mind that the "City Market" is a name only. This is not owned by the city of Burlington. Your complaint about their business practices would be the type of thing you could bring to the attention of the manager of the store. He or she may be able to tell you why they used a parking space to sell smoothies.
They are responsible for the management of their business. This is not the city's market.
We can still check the site to see that there are no violations of city ordinance.
mrooney (Registered User)
Dave (Registered User)
RJ Lalumiere (Registered User)
I understand the frustration. As noted the more folks who walk or bike it will improve the situation for those that still choose, for whatever reason, to drive instead.
As an alternative in case this private lot happens to be full I will note there is a public garage right across the street with free parking for the first two hours which I have never found to be completely occupied. I would suggest giving it a try if one finds this lot to be full :)
Dave (Registered User)
mrooney (Registered User)
Dave (Registered User)
Rooney. This has nothing to do with me, any individual person, anyone's ability to park elsewhere, or a subjective opinion as to the place or role of city market in our community.
No person or entity deserves a free pass on its obligations to comply with all regulations, permits, and permit conditions. Personally, I usually walk or bike since I live and work in town. That being said, there are occasions I have my car for another reason and I end up driving there.
It seems obvious that the market is reducing the number of parking spaces contrary to its permits. That it is doing it only some times during the week doesn't change the analysis.
The answer to permit violations is not to pretend it isn't happening - even if there may be work arounds to alleviate the effects of the violation or if you think the market should be excused from compliance simply because you have a positive view of it.
Lauren Berrizbeitia (Registered User)
Toiletmanners (Registered User)
Dave (Registered User)
The controlling document is the Market's permit(s). It will contain a statement or condition addresing parking. I'm not sure what that number is.
I'm confident that the Market maintains that minimum number and therefore reducing it even temporary amounts to a permit violation and thus code violation.
The City has not taken any position on this and the ticket remains open. It has only acknowledged it and said it would ensure there are no violations. Silence since that time.
Frankly I'm not sure what the cause of delay is. The city just needs to pull the permit and determine the minimum number of spaces and see by looking at the diagrams in the file whether removing spaces would bring it into noncompliance.
Bill Ward Director of Permitting and Inspections (Verified Official)
The tent was down the day after the initial complaint as photographed here. Regardless of the number of permitted parking spaces, this is a temporary use of a parking space and not something that would require a separate zoning permit for each days use of a parking space.
I do think you should address this with the management if it still concerns you that they use their spaces occasionally for something other than a car.
Dave (Registered User)
Bill,
This is obviously select enforcement. What exactly defines "temporary?" Once a week all summer and fall? A few times a month? How about for a month straight to sell christmas trees every November into December? Apparently even an unbroken 30 days is still "temporary" under your view.
Your office doesn't take this approach for other violations, so why here? Because we all like City Market? Is trash or illegal dumping not a violation unless it's there for a certain number of days? How about when it comes to landlord responsibilities?
Ultimately, your office is selectively enforcing and interpreting relevant ordinances and permits. It's a shame the City will bend over backwards to go after some folks, yet, with others who violate ordinances or permits, the City shrugs its shoulders and lets an already dangerous situation become worse for the walkers, biker, and drivers who use that lot.
I believe a better explanation is in order. If the ordinance permits the City to selectively ignore permit requirements because it views a violation as "temporary," please cite such authority. As it stands know, your response is a total cop-out.
Closed Tmiles (Verified Official)