A reader pointed out that there are dumpsters in the street on Fairmont Avenue near the 7770 Norfolk building, and mentioned that they are taking up several public parking spaces without paying the meters. Dumpsters can be placed in the public right-of-way with a permit issued by Montgomery County. But I'm not familiar with the rules on when they are in paid parking spaces, such as whether they can pay a fee directly to the County in lieu of paying at the meter.
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Detail from application for
construction permit |
If you think the city or county is getting a raw deal, you should figure out the fees instead of leaving it at "I'm not familiar with the rules" when making a post like this. MoCo has fees associated with the permit you posted a picture of. Frankly, I have no clue how those fees match up against the $26/day that each meter would generate if it's occupied, and imagine it's a net money loser for the city and/or county for the dumpster itself. These seem like the sort of facts that a reporter or city council member would like to investigate further before posting a story.
ReplyDelete6:04: Your criticism is misplaced, although I'll give you the benefit of the doubt as you may not be aware:
DeleteThe "information" is not available for public review on the County website. I spent 45 minutes searching every possible way, and came up empty every time.
So the problem is, the County website is NOT open data and easy to use.
The public can't know the policy on dumpsters at metered parking? Really?
I can say that 311 has responded to the citizen's complaint.
Gee, I wonder who that "reader" could be. Someone who lives in the Fairmont Plaza?
ReplyDelete6:20: There was a picture of the tweet right in the article, moron. You're still "Dumass material all the way", to quote the old A&W ad.
DeleteWhat a whiner, this sounds like someone just looking for an issue. Parking enforcement would be all over this if a permit were not visible (which you the whiner probably ignored). These containers are common throughout the region on city streets as a temporary measure during construction. Get over yourself-righteousness.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. No permit visible!
ReplyDelete@ 8:35 AM - Maybe they're posted on the side of the dumpster that Dyer didn't photograph, the side facing the sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteBlocking all the street parking impacts the businesses on Fairmont. So, it's an issue for them I'm sure. Good that Robert is pointing it out!
ReplyDeleteLOL, what businesses? The hot dog place on one end, or the Positano on the other end?
ReplyDeleteRight in front of Bold Bite. Impacts them big time.
ReplyDeletePositano, office shipping store also impacted!
Takes parking from nearby sports like Reddz and Starbucks.
I saw this. The meters in front of the dumpsters were active (had flashing red lights indicating unpaid). These meters were also newly installed since the sidewalk was recently redone there, so the intention was to draw revenue from them.
ReplyDeleteIt's taking away parking from those businesses. I was on my way to Bangkok Garden the next street over, and Fairmont was nearly all parked up, with meter-paying cars. Why do the dumpsters get to "park" without paying?
If they are "paying", then why are the meters active? How do the parking enforcement people know if they should enforce or not? There's no visible permit on those dumpsters.
It would seem that Bold Bites would have a much bigger impact from having Benny Greenberg as a landlord, than from having that dumpster.
ReplyDeleteStreet parking is gold since they have the new credit card readers.
ReplyDeleteThe county lots with meters still have coin only or the cellphone payment.
There a many more businesses on Fairmont than Bold Bite, by the way.
ReplyDeleteNot many more. There's a Greenhill empty spot which supposedly has tapas or other coming. Then Bold bite. Then Greenhill parking. Then Greenhill two empty spots. Then Greenhill Wall. Then Bainbridge empty. Then what's down the way... A couple more right?
DeleteDid anyone bother to check with the county or developer about the dumpster? Or just whining away about it without doing anything about it?
ReplyDelete@6:35pm Within 1 block is: BGR, Bangkok Garden, Hanaro, Bold Bite, Positano.. and those are just the ones I go to where I've parked on Fairmont for. It's a lot easier to maneuver and find a spot on Fairmont compared to St. Elmo one street over, and the cut-through between the streets at Bainbridge is handy. So yes, the parking on that street is valuable.
ReplyDeleteMedia attention tends to get problems solved quicker, so it's good Robert highlights problems around town!
ReplyDeleteHave any of the problems Dyer has highlighted resulted in a solution?
DeleteI count three trees along that short stretch of sidewalk. That's three more than in the entire Westbard shopping center.
ReplyDelete9:02 PM - But what if no one actually reads Dyer's blog? Seems like just calling 311 would be much quicker and more efficient.
ReplyDelete