RANCHO SANTA FE — At a Rancho Santa Fe Association Board Meeting, survey results revealed that Village merchants were not in favor of an off-site parking pilot program in an effort to offer more space for customers and visitors.
According to Tom Farrar, RSF Association planning director, a parking survey was conducted to evaluate the total of on-site parking for businesses and the number of employees at each location in the Village.
More importantly, Farrar said, the survey gleaned whether or not these businesses were willing to contribute and be part of an off-site parking lot. The site location was at the First Church of Christ Scientist on La Flecha and the estimated cost was $10,000 for a six-month pilot program.
Due to the results of the survey, Farrar went on to say that staff recommended to the finance committee at the end of May not to move forward with the church parking lease agreement.
“The survey basically says that five out of 41 (Village businesses), which is a core of the census, would consider it,” he said, referring to the off-site parking pilot program.
Board Director Heather Slosar voiced her disappointment that more businesses wouldn’t consider a two-block walk to assist with the Village parking efforts.
“I’m shocked they won’t,” she said.
Farrar assured the board that the sample they received was good because they literally stopped at every business.
Board director Jerry Yahr noted that a business, which was very vocal about the lack of parking in the past, was absent from the list provided.
Farrar agreed that there were a few, but staff went back twice and were not able to receive a response.
“We did our very, very best and we have the details of that survey if you’d like to see it,” Farrar said.
