Santa Monica’s preferential parking districts(PPD)areas are in color. Red lines show implemented preferential parking; blue shows areas approved with only petitions needed for implementation.

Many Venice residents ask “Why not Venice?”

Councilman Mike Bonin has said Venice needs an approved local coastal plan (LCP) and then Venice would be able to skirt the California Coastal Commission. To get such approved, some say Venice would also have to provide more parking. Councilman Bonin asked for one million dollars to cover costs for preparation. He got $100,000.

“We are awaiting the results of our last grant application to Coastal, and are hoping that we will get additional funding for the LCP through that process,” commented David Graham-Caso, communications director for Councilman Bonin. “I’m not certain what the timing is on those decisions, but we are hopeful that the Coastal Commission will commit additional funding.

“It not my understanding that Venice will need to have more parking in order to get a new LCP approved. While we will be looking at strategies to increase the parking supply in Venice during the LCP process, it is something we are also looking at now (there may be ways to increase the parking supply under current conditions).”

Right now residents just have a hard time with parking. Venice is filled with tourists, but even so, the most critical is that Venice has houses without adequate parking, and many residents with proper parking, park on the street. Commercial parking is inadequate for parking employees and patrons. All of these situations contribute to “no parking.”

It was brought up at the land use and planning meeting by one resident who lives north of Rose that her neighbors just north of her, which is Santa Monica, are getting preferential parking, which will add more burden on residents in Venice near Rose commercial.

It is a way of life for many residents to keep their parking spots for emergencies and to set certain hours for certain car-required tasks. It is a Venice “parking maneuver … the Venice Jig” necessary for many.

Hopefully, preferential parking would put the commercial on the commercial lots, would put the tourist cars on commercial lots, and would allow residents to park and operate like normal residents with a place to park.