BY SHANNON PRIEBE

Parking relief for the Licton Springs neighborhood is moving closer to reality.

In the second public meeting regarding the issues held Feb.16, area residents voted on the hours and days that parking restrictions will be enforced via creation of a Residential Parking Zone (RPZ). Those attending the Licton Springs Community Council meeting unanimously decided to restrict parking to two hours, Monday through Friday, except holidays and weekends from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

RPZs have already been instituted as an answer to parking problems along residential streets in several congested communities throughout the City. RPZs work by limiting the amount of time vehicles of non-residents, such as students, customers of local businesses and guests of local residents, can park in a particular neighborhood. Residents who live within an affected area are allotted two parking stickers and one guest pass per household which can allow them to park their vehicles for longer than the RPZ time limit. Those needing more stickers can either purchase them from the City or arrange to borrow them from neighbors.

Before the City can designate an area as an RPZ, 60 percent of those living within that area must sign petitions giving their consent.

Licton Springs residents say they have experienced parking difficulties in their neighborhood primarily due to North Seattle Community College students who park along area streets, rather than on the school campus, which is located in the heart of the community. Neighbors say they have also noticed more trash in the area that they also attribute to the dense parking situation.

"I pick up garbage every day and I'm just tired of it," said Liz Kearns, president of the Licton Springs Community Council, at a recent meeting.

The City recently approved an RPZ that would cover a 12-block area within the Licton Springs neighborhood. It is estimated that it will take a minimum of 10 weeks from when the petitions are submitted by the Licton Springs Community Council for signs to appear designating the RPZ.

The boundaries for the 12-block RPZ are Densmore Ave. N., between N. 95th and N. 97th; Wallingford Ave. N., between N. 92nd to N. 100th; and College Way N., between N. 92nd and N. 100th. The RPZ will also run east-west along N. 92nd, N. 95th, N. 97th and N. 100th within that area.

For more information, call Liz Kearns at 525-5243.