Current Parking Issues of Concern..... 

SEE: Comments at BOTTOM of this page.

There is currently a holding pattern on some 
types of towing (until approx. 60 days after 
August 27) for new parking rules evaluation.
Vehicles will still be towed if they are:
A) blocking spaces 
B) parked in the wrong unit assigned space 
   (and unit holder calls for towing)
C) Parked blocking dumpsters or in red zones or in "non-parking spaces".

There is vigorous discussion and strong differing opinions regarding 
the parking permits, guest parking, identifying authorized vehicles, 
non-operational vehicles, business vehicles, stored vehicles, etc.

Permits and Towing are at the top of the list of concerns.
Some of the current suggestions are:


1) One automatic Permit per Unit Owner.
or...
2) Two automatic Permits per Unit Owner.

3) Assign a Permit to a specific vehicle.
or...
4) Assign a Permit to a specific Unit Owner.

5) Print a Permit Sticker.
or...
6) Print a Placard (with a ID number of Unit Owner)

7) Prevent use of expired permits by changing colors each year.

8) Creating a limited number of "15 minute" spaces 
   within the Guest Parking areas.

9) Creating more spaces by reducing green areas 
   (like paving spaces in some of the ivy).

10) Allowing a Unit Owner to post un-used unit spaces 
   (or garage space) on a "for rent" list.

11) Changes to the definition of "Commercial Vehicle".

12) Changes to the rights to park "stored vehicles".

13) Installing automatic gates to slow the intrusion of outsiders.


Voice your opinion - [HERE] 

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
Getting rid of extra cars to "save the planet" - Some 
of us here are married couples who live in a 1 bedroom 
condo.  We don't require the space of a 2 bdrm condo, 
but we do have one car each.  Since we don't work 
together at the same job, run the same errands, or 
just spend every single second of our days together 
making it convenient to only require one car in the 
household - it is NECESSARY for us to have two. It's 
not about saving the planet, or satisfying all those 
of you who bitch endlessly on this issue.  It's about 
us living here, as a couple, with two cars and busy 
lives.  For all of you who are the complainers: Don't 
you have anything better to spend your time doing 
than patroling everyone else's cars and lives?  Get a 
life, hobby, spouse, pet - SOMETHING.  Mind your own 
business!

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
Possible Pheasant Creek Parking Solution Proposal
to the HOA Board and Merit Property Mgmt as follows:
(Phase-2 is located closer to El Toro Rd & Santa 
Margarita.  Phase-1 is in the middle.  Phase-3 is 
closer to River Oaks Apartments).
1. RIVER OAKS PARKING ISSUE: Since overflow from River 
Oaks causes a domino effect, then I suggest we put up 
posts and hang a chain with reflectors on it across 
the access area.  Installing automatic gates to slow 
intrusion of outsiders is a good idea.  Otherwise, 
build a wall or use some other means of blocking or 
separating vehicle access between the two areas.  
SOLUTION: This will stop River Oaks residents and their 
guests from taking over our complex.
2. PHASE PERMIT PARKING ISSUE: (Designated per Phase) 
Phase Permit parking is for tenants only.
· I suggest that Merit paint Permit in parking spots 
along the perimeter of the complex (with a few scattered 
in-between) and have residents, with Phase permits, park 
in Permit parking only.
· Permits should have Phase 1, 2 or 3 typed onto the 
sticker so parking is designated per phase.
· Allow the residents to use their permits as floaters to 
any car they wish, without registering it to a designated 
vehicle.  This should not be an issue since guest spots 
will be freed up.
· Ask the residents to vote on a limited time frame to 
rotate Phase Permit parked vehicles, for example, one week.
· I don't want my Condo# on our permits.  Sometimes freaks 
follow me into my complex and I don't want them knowing 
which condo I live in.
SOLUTION: All the above will stop Pheasant Creek residents 
from using all the guest spots with their extra cars. 
Typing 1, 2 or 3 on the actual sticker will prevent 
residents other Phases from taking over another Phase. 
The reason for having designated permits per Phase is 
because Phase-3 only has garages and guest spots; NO 
CARPORTS, so they don't have many guest spaces.  As a 
result, if we don't issue Phase Permit Parking, then 
simply having parking for Permit Only could also cause a 
domino effect from Phase-3 into Phase-1, into Phase 2.  
I suggest we do an experimental trial run for 90 days 
(3 months) to see how this works.  If it doesn't work, 
we simple change it.
3. GUEST PARKING ISSUE: Guest parking is for guests only.
4. BUILDING MORE PARKING SPACES ISSUE: Replacing 
landscaping for additional parking is also a solution.  
I am hereby requesting that the HOA Members and Merit 
present a proposal to the owners about this issue prior 
to construction.
5. TOWING ISSUE: I suggest that towing be enforced after 
midnight ONLY, unless they are violating an obvious rule 
such a blocking, etc.
6. 5 MINUTE MAIL PARKING: I suggest that Merit paint 
"5 Minute Mail Parking" on spots near the mailboxes.  
In addition, I suggest Merit post a sign stating, for 
example, "This parking is for temporary parking between 
the hours of 2PM to 8 PM" (similar to the street sweeper 
signs in Newport Beach).  SOLUTION: This will prevent 
traffic congestion and prevent people from temporarily 
blocking cars or parking in an undesignated area while 
they get their mail.  It will also free up the traffic 
flow, prevent accidents and allow the mailman to park 
safely.  I have seen the mail truck get hit by a vehicle 
due to blocking and the police came.
7. SECURITY PRIVACY: Advise Patrol Masters NOT to give 
out guest information to ANYONE.  I was dating someone 
who spent the night.  We date other people.  The next 
week, that same person spent the night with a psycho 
(example) who lived in another complex that used our 
same security company.  When the psycho called in my old 
dates car, the security company said, "Hey, that car was 
just called into Pheasant Creek last week!"  Nonetheless, 
it caused an argument between the two and now psycho 
knows where I live!  I don't need freaks knowing where 
I live.  That's not cool.


COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
What if the Board doen't make any changes to the 
parking rules as specified in the C,C,& R's.  
Homeowners will be required to park in their assigned 
spaces only and all guest parking will be for guests 
only.  All those with more vehicles than bedrooms; 
sell those extra cars and save the planet.  As for 
the civil libertarians whining about privacy when 
applying for their parking stickers, stick it in your 
ears.  All Patrol Masters needs and requests is proof 
that you own or rent here and a vehicle licence plate 
number.  They're not asking for your social security 
number, drivers license number, or a drug test.

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
We can replace stickers with different colors every 
year or whenever the parking starts to get crowded.  
We need to have stickers assigned to the unit instead 
of the car!

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
I want everyone to know that the "proposed" new parking 
rules are a complete violation of the CA Vehicle Codes. 
Section 22658 states very clearly what can and cannot 
be done on private property, such as ours.  Here is a 
direct link to that site:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22658.htm  
If any resident has their vehicle removed from this 
property, and it violates this code, you could get up 
to FOUR TIMES the amount of your towing charges should 
you go to court.  Just FYI... please inform all your 
neighbors of this as well.  Lets all stay informed on 
the REAL rules for parking.

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
We live in a 2 bedroom.  My wife and I both have a car 
and my daughter does as well.  Unfortunately we have no 
garage.  I just hope the association finds a happy medium 
that will suffice for all of us.  Although, it would 
certainly help if garage owners did park their vehicles 
in their garages.

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
Let's use the south end of the un-used park lawn area 
for a double row of extra parking spots.  This would 
make additional parking spaces for about 20 cars and 
still leave 80% of the lawn untouched.

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
We will not give personal (private) information to anyone.  
And we will use our "permits" on our visitors cars, as we 
will not spend time and money getting permission from a 
greedy towing company that makes money by "forgetting" 
to honor "safe" parkers.

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
I NEED to use my permits on the vehicle I am driving.  
The vehicle I drive changes almost every day!  
Assigning it to a vehicle will NOT work.

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
I just rented my extra space! Cool!

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
The only parking problem we have is the "Tow-Away-Police".
Too bad the "Security" definition is not "Security".

COMMENT FROM RESIDENT (unedited):
The word "Guest Parking" is not a single definiton.  It is 
a word that indicates a safe place for overflow parking, 
special considerations and accomodations. Parking concerns 
seem to be centered around the area of the association and the 
River Oaks apartments. The apartments being the source of most 
of the Guest parking issues. Some concerns expressed were the 
misuse of garages  and the overuse of the alotted guest spots. 
I believe, for the most part, people who use the guest spots 
are not overnight users (That's when parking/towings becomes 
an issue), they are day visitors. The people who live here and 
have business here, are willing and able to use their garages 
and do for a number of reasons, to avoid increased theft from 
vehicle break in's, vandalisms, to avoid falling sap from the 
trees and dust from leaf blowers.  However, the cooperatives are 
penalized for the misuses of a few uncooperatives.  Next, there 
is an issue of the assigned vehicle to the spot or garage. 
There are days I want my auto garaged and there are times I 
want my other vehicle garaged.  To have the threat of being 
towed because the vehicle isn't in my designated spot is 
untenable.  If I have a guest and we dine out and visit others 
into the evening and we overlook the time by a few minutes and 
discover that the visitor has been towed by preditory towing 
company policies, this is also unexceptable.  I believe that a 
permit (one per bedroom) allows me to park in a guest spot 
thereby allowing me to exceed the 12 midnight deadline and 
because my guest is in my assigned spot, the vehicle is 
automatically safelisted without the privacy invasion of my 
guest and inconveniences of safelisting and the fear of being 
towed.  And, because my vehicle has a sticker affixed to it, 
demonstrates that I am associated with this complex with 
permission to be parked here (in a guest spot) without the fear 
of being towed.  It seems that the guest parking is only an issue 
past midnight and focused mostly in the River Oaks / Pheasant 
Creek area.  There has always been plenty (and I mean plenty) of 
guest parking on the west end of the complex where I ultimately 
park when accomodating my guests.  If my visiting out of town 
guest using a rental car or a borrowed one is towed for some 
reason or minor oversight, the tow company accumulates fees per 
day while the guest has to secure proof the vehicle is a rental 
or the actual owner claims the vehicle.  There is a lot of this 
practice going on throuhgout the rental communities by preditory 
tow companies.  Let's not make the majority of our good community 
to be a victim to River Oaks parking problems.  They have green 
areas they can convert to guest parking that will indeed relieve 
our issues and let them secure their own parking permits for 
their own areas.

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