Council sees first draft of street parking regulations
Posted
Gia Wright | Times Staff Writer
Street parking along Rio Grande Ave.
The Gunnison City Council discussed proposed updates to the current on-street parking policies and regulations at their meeting on Sept. 19, 2025. This is a follow-up to an on-street parking assessment that occurred at the end of 2024, as well as subsequent community engagement initiatives to test the waters about possible code changes. Two open houses were held on June 24, 2024 and July 1, 2024 to inform citizens of current parking issues and receive the public’s input on possible solutions. An online survey was conducted for those that were unable to attend in person or missed the events. The goals of these proposed changes include increased organizational performance and continuously improving efficiencies, economic prosperity, and enhanced accessibility, which includes improving access, safety and mobility of current transport systems. The following five points are the key issues currently under consideration:
Limit long-term vehicle storage. Residents of Gunnison expressed frustration with the long-term storage of RV’s, trailers, boats and work trucks on public city streets. Currently, vehicles such as these have been parked for extended periods of time in various areas of the city, especially near Van Tuyl and the airport. Some suggestions that arose were to create off-street, designated storage areas or to enforce time limits for parking such vehicles.
Improve enforcement of existing rules. Based on citizen input, there is broad consensus that existing parking rules (such as the 72-hour limit) are not being enforced. Residents are asking for stronger enforcement presence, better signage and consistency.
Restrict residential and airport-area parking. Concerns were raised about renters, short-term rental operators, businesses and airport users taking up limited street parking. Suggested changes include permitted parking zones and requiring off-street parking for high-density or commercial uses.
Prohibit camping and living in vehicles on city streets. Multiple citizen comments noted concerns about individuals living long-term in vans and RVs parked on city streets. Residents are requesting a clear prohibition or a system that limits this activity to a shorter permitted timeframe.
Require adequate parking in new developments. Community members emphasized the need for parking in new residential developments that include sufficient space for guest parking, trailers and recreational vehicles to prevent spillover onto city streets.
A few clear orders of business have emerged from this meeting. This includes the need to more specifically define “recreational vehicles,” keeping (and enforcing) 48-hour parking limits, nailing down camping time limitations and designated areas, evaluating no parking during the winter season, defining the difference between various commercial-sized trailers and trucks as well as passenger vehicles and clarifying no overnight parking at the airport regulations with the potential to enforce these infractions with towing at owner cost.The City Council requested that staff consider Gunnison’s downtown area independently from the rest of the town, when it comes to on-street parking issues. These changes would not change or modify the current parking regulations downtown. Currently, no additional staffing is proposed for these changes, though future adjustments to personnel to help enforce new regulations is anticipated. There is no financial impact associated with these parking regulation changes at this time. (Gia Wright can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or gia@gunnisontimes.com.)
Street parking along Rio Grande Ave.
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