The board of directors for the Plat 208 Property Owners Association, which covers much of the downtown, is implementing a new enforcement program related to the parking lots in the area.

Plat 208 includes all the properties bounded by La Montana Drive on the west, Palisades Boulevard on the north, Saguaro Boulevard on the east and Avenue of the Fountains on the south.

This association is bound by a set of CC&Rs (Rules and Regulations) that are contained in the signing documents for each property owner.

“These rules can be lengthy and complex so the board of directors has recently taken the action to address and clarify one important set of rules relating to parking within the association property,” Board Treasurer Ed Kamins said in a press release. “Plat 208 parking lots are private property for the express use of our property owners, their tenants and the customers who frequent the businesses existing within our boundaries.”

The parking lots are expressly not to be used for storage or overnight parking except as expressly granted by the board of directors of Plat 208. Kamins said the board discussed the issue and took input from property owners before determining an action to take. Since the board voted it has taken a few months to get the signs placed before enforcement could begin.

“The board does accommodate the use of our parking lots for events that support the town and our businesses,” Kamins added. “The art fairs are good examples of such use.”

As the businesses have grown, there has been repeated use of the private parking lots for store vehicles, to keep work materials and to leave oversized vehicles that can be unsightly and dangerous to the flow of traffic, according to Kamins.

“The problem has grown to the point where the board has decided to take action,” he said. “A letter was recently sent to all property owners reiterating the rules and offering an opportunity to apply for a special permit for anyone that has a proper work vehicle that fits in a single space, is limited by size and is used regularly for the purpose of supporting the local business.”

The association has hired a security firm by the name of Oversii that will be patrolling the parking lots at night to identify any vehicles in violation of the rules who do not have properly displayed permits. Those vehicles will be given written warning and if the violation continues vehicles will be towed off the property.

Signs have been placed at regular intervals at entrances to the parking lots and in the interior sections of the lots to inform the public of the parking restrictions.

“It is important to note that the board of directors is here to serve the property owners and our desire is to never have to tow a vehicle,” Kamins said. “But common areas are the responsibility of everyone to use appropriately and be good neighbors to the businesses that surround them.”