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Candidates Answer Questions About Parking

Oct 5

3 min read

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Via Potomac Local...


Potomac Local News is informing the community about candidates vying for seats on the Manassas City Council and the mayor’s seat. You can sign up for Potomac Local News' newsletter here.


To help voters make an informed decision, they are launching a new feature series, “One-Question Manassas City Council Candidate Survey.” This series will run throughout the campaign season, offering insights into each candidate’s stand on key issues affecting our city.


Here are Manassas Republican candidates answers on concerns regarding parking:


Xiao-Yin “Tang” Byrom (R) (Candidate for Mayor)

Parking in our city isn’t a one-size-fits-all issue. Each neighborhood deserves a tailored approach that respects the needs of its residents. In places like Georgetown South, where congestion is a daily struggle, homeowners associations need to have the loudest voice. They live the problem and know the solutions that work. For other areas without these associations but still facing parking headaches, we have options. Should we introduce paid street parking? Build more vertical structures? Require City decals for long-term parking? These choices have their pros and cons, but they need your input.As Manassas continues to grow, the parking crunch will only get worse. But here’s the good news: We’re not alone. By looking to other cities facing similar challenges, we can adopt proven strategies that fit our community. Your voice matters in shaping how we address this.

Lynn Forkell Greene (R)  (Candidate for Council)

Parking is a vital issue for our community, affecting residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Here are some key points I believe we should focus on. Enhanced parking solutions: We need to explore a range of parking options to accommodate the growing population and influx of visitors. This could include expanding existing parking facilities, investing in multi-level parking structures, and creating additional parking spaces in strategic locations.
Improved signage and wayfinding: Clear and accessible signage can significantly improve the parking experience. We should invest in better signage to guide drivers to available parking areas, reducing frustration and congestion.
Smart parking technologies: Implementing smart parking solutions, such as real-time space availability apps and automated payment systems, can streamline the parking process and make it more convenient for everyone.
Support for local businesses: Ensuring that parking is accessible to customers is crucial for the vitality of our local businesses.
Community feedback and engagement: I believe in actively engaging with residents to understand their parking challenges and preferences. I am committed to addressing parking concerns with thoughtful, practical solutions that balance the needs of all stakeholders while enhancing the overall quality of life in Manassas.
Your feedback and support will be invaluable as we work together to create a more accessible and efficient parking system for our city.

Stephen Kent (R)  (Candidate for Council)

With parking policy and managing cars, the only sustainable solution is to enforce existing parking codes in the city and have a paid permit system for street parking. Much of the discussion in Manassas centers around the effects of overcrowding within single-family homes and how that leads to a lack of available parking, but we often leave out the fact that having three or more cars also could mean you’re a family with older children. In just two years, our family will need a third car for our teenage daughter, and the city-sticker system used in Georgetown South and Bristoe Station is a workable solution. There are no magic wand solutions to parking. You have to remain flexible, price parking spaces appropriately, register all vehicles, tow cars that don’t play by the rules, and consider whether or not the city needs a second parking deck to support the Historic Downtown deck. It’s also very important that small cities like Manassas not become over-reliant on free parking. When cities do that, you rapidly begin losing what little available land you have to parking lot. Green space becomes concrete slabs. Fair, market-rate parking solutions is what will keep Manassas beautiful and moving.

Robyn Williams (R)  (Candidate for Council)

To address the ongoing parking issues in high-density neighborhoods like Georgetown South, I propose a comprehensive strategy that tackles both immediate concerns and long-term solutions. Georgetown South is unique in that the neighborhood’s roads are owned by the city, not the homeowner’s association. The city has already initiated a plan aimed at providing residents with more reliable parking options in Georgetown South. For other neighborhoods, a short-term solution would involve working closely with homeowner associations to reassess current parking allocations. In the long term, we can explore opportunities to create additional parking by reconfiguring underutilized public spaces, all while preserving the community’s amenities. There are several potential solutions worth considering, but it’s essential that we engage with residents in every community to ensure the strategies we implement reflect residents’ needs and concerns. Together, we can develop a sustainable solution to these parking challenges.

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