San Bruno tells limo drivers: DonТt park in neighborhoods

Limousines parking on neighborhood streets rather than free airport parking is causing San Bruno residents and leaders to find another way to clear the vehicles from the area.

Residents in the Belle Air neighborhood often have trouble parking since limousine drivers waiting to be called to the airport choose to park in the area. City officials began working with the airport to solve the problem resulting in a free staging area for the large luxury vehicles. Prevalence of the limousines, however, did not diminish after the lot opening which forced the city to research other options Чаa topic the City Council will discuss Tuesday.

Belle Air resident Robert Riechel and his wife documented 62 limousines in the area during 18 days in February. The large vehicles are cumbersome on the small neighborhood streets often not abiding in parking regulations, he noted.

Problems began about a year ago when residents complained about the limousines. City officials began working with the airport to create a solution.

In January, the airport opened a limousine staging lot with a real-time flight monitor, beverage vending machine, space for a mobile catering truck and portable rest rooms, according to a Feb. 27 letter written by Henry Thompson, assistant deputy airport director of operations management. Information about the new lot was mailed to over 1,200 limousine operating services, he said.

Once the limousines leave the airport, however, the management has no control over the drivers, Thompson wrote.

To date, those efforts did not eliminate the problem, said City Manager Connie Jackson.

The city is currently researching options to limit the drivers from parking in the residential area, she said. A discussion will be held Tuesday to get direction from the council.

The council meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at the senior center, 1555 Crystal Springs Blvd., San Bruno.