WIDE LOADS COUNCIL TO CUT COMPACT SPACES?Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer BURBANK - Recognizing the proliferation proliferation /pro·lif·er·a·tion/ (pro-lif?er-a´shun) the reproduction or multiplication of similar forms, especially of cells.prolif´erativeprolif´erous pro·lif·er·a·tion n. of sport-utility vehicles sport-u·til·i·ty vehicle n. Abbr. SUV A four-wheel-drive vehicle with a roomy body, designed for off-road travel. and other large cars in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , the Burbank City Council today will discuss eliminating or reducing the number of parking spaces for compact cars to make room for larger vehicles. With many drivers climbing into large vehicles these days, at least two members of the city council are in favor of making more room for them on lots around the city. City Councilman Jeff Vander Borght, who suggested the city eliminate the requirement for compact spaces on newly built lots in 1999, will put the same suggestion before the council today. ``The majority of the people that I talk to are delighted to see this discussed and just (want) to get rid of the compact spaces,'' Vander Borght said. ``Compact parking spaces made sense in the '70s, when ... the oil embargo Oil embargo may refer to:
But fewer people drive compacts today, the councilman said, adding that even though his own Audi A6 is not a big car, he cannot fit it into compact spaces. Under the municipal code, 45 percent of parking spaces on any new lot built in the city must be compact-size. An exception is made for lots built in retail zones, which for several years have been free from the requirement, Vander Borght said. Since 1999, city officials have examined various options for modifying the city's policy on compact spaces. The council's scheduled consideration of the issue today comes as a result of a request Vander Borght made in October to get a report on options that have been considered. The councilman said he would also like to get an update on the tentative move the council made in 2000 to eliminate compact spaces in areas zoned for multifamily residences. Sujatha Jahagirdar, an advocate with Environment California Environment California is an American environmental advocacy organization that takes action against on local, state and national levels to protect California's air, water and open spaces. The group has offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco. , said her organization has tried to encourage drivers to opt for smaller vehicles that consume less fuel. ``And we think that the Burbank City Council should be encouraging the use of smaller, less-polluting vehicles, as opposed to large polluting pol·lute tr.v. pol·lut·ed, pol·lut·ing, pol·lutes 1. To make unfit for or harmful to living things, especially by the addition of waste matter. See Synonyms at contaminate. 2. ones,'' she said. City Councilwoman Marsha Ramos said that 20 years ago she would have been ``wholeheartedly whole·heart·ed adj. Marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm: wholehearted approval. whole in support of compact parking,'' but in the past decade, vehicles have become increasingly large. Ramos said she drives a Lincoln Town Car The Lincoln Town Car is a rear wheel drive full-size luxury sedan and serves as the flagship of Ford's Lincoln luxury car division. Often referred to as a traditional American luxury sedan, the Town Car features a V8 engine, rear wheel drive, very generous exterior and interior . ``What happens is there are a lot of spaces not being used because they are only for small cars, or large cars park in them and end up taking two spaces,'' she said. Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com |
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