The University Park city council has approved the final step in a plan that will eventually shift the cost of offsite employee parking to Snider Plaza property owners.
The council’s Sept. 15 vote puts to rest the controversial question of whether to implement paid parking in the shopping center, where spots are often in high demand. Last year, a volunteer task force recommended charging an hourly parking fee. But that plan never received city council support.
Through the Snider Plaza Public Improvement District (PID), property owners will now pay an annual assessment of 15 cents per $100 valuation, primarily to fund offsite, long-term parking for Snider Plaza.
The PID includes properties in Snider Plaza south of Rankin Street, the city-owned property at 3420 Rankin, and the property at 3330 Daniel Avenue owned by SMU.
It is expected to generate $195,000 in its first year and has a 10-year initial timeframe. A board of property owners, merchants, and residents will help guide the PID’s operations and review its budget. The city anticipates providing some financial support to the PID in its early years, though this will be phased out as the PID becomes self sustaining, according to its service and assessment plan.
Council member Melissa Rieman, who made the motion to approve the PID, praised city staffers who had worked on the plan, including special projects coordinator Amanda Hartwick. Rieman remarked that the PID would be a positive development for both the city and Snider Plaza property owners. A majority of property owners within the PID’s boundaries have approved its creation.
The city council tabled consideration of a request by Highland Park ISD to modify a parking agreement for the streets around Highland Park High School.
Director of public works and community development Keegan Littrell told the council that, while the school district is focused on providing spots for students to park on campus, it is open to discussions that could bring parking relief to busy streets around the Miracle Mile shopping area.
“The city spaces that are close to Miracle Mile would provide off-site employee parking for Miracle Mile that would be easily walkable, so we ought to keep that in mind when we’re dealing with city spaces,” Mayor Pro Tem Phillip Philbin said, “because I think that is an issue and will continue to be an issue.”
Also during the meeting, the council:
- Approved an agreement with the city of Garland for public safety radio system maintenance and repair services, a move that fire chief Randy Howell said should save the city about $160,000 over the next five years.
- Recognized the public works department for achieving reaccreditation from the American Public Works Association. Fewer than 20 public works departments in the state of Texas who have achieved accreditation. UP’s department was accredited in 2018, Littrell told the council.
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