Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Valet parking is being considered along Big Basin Way.

Is Saratoga ready for valet parking?

Service said to be cure for city's parking woes

By Sarah Lombardo

Soon, parking in Saratoga may be as simple as saying: "Take care of it, won't you? I just had it washed."

Corinthian International Parking Services hopes you'll let them do the rest. The company would like to begin offering valet-parking service to business patrons in Saratoga Village.

In an Oct. 22 presentation to the Saratoga Business Development Council, Corinthian's area manager, Michael Petteruti, proposed establishing a valet parking operation at Third Street and Big Basin Way, in front of Bella Saratoga restaurant. Petteruti said the service could end a lot of parking frustrations for shoppers and diners who visit the village.

"The biggest benefit of this will be that we'll be taking about 50 to 60 cars out of the public city parking and taking them to a different location," he said.

Petteruti said the service would take the burden of parking away from shoppers or restaurant patrons and open up spaces in the village for people would prefer to park their cars themselves. "It's a real win-win situation," headded.

The new service, if established, would provide valet parking for any visitors to the village area for a flat fee of $5 per car, paid by the car's owner. According to the proposal, one valet would be on hand Monday through Wednesday nights, and two valets would be available Thursday through Saturday nights, beginning at 5 p.m.

Don Wolfe, a City Council member and chairman of the business-development council, said he thought the idea seemed like a good one. "Our main thoroughfare would have, in essence, valet parking for the whole village," Wolfe said. "It would really be unique and special. This will be a first in Silicon Valley, as far as I know."

Wolfe and Petteruti said they would like to see the idea implemented in time for the holiday season. But, before you grab your keys, City Manager Harry Peacock said a few details still have to be worked out.

According to Peacock, Petteruti and Corinthian have yet to decide where the cars will be parked. One of the sites they are considering would be the paved area of Saratoga Elementary School on Oak Street, but Petteruti doesn't have the approval yet of the school district, Peacock said.

Petteruti said he has spoken to Ellen Tipton, business manager for the Saratoga Union School District, but that the issue still has to fo through several other channels. "All I've done is talked to her about the idea," he said.

"I told [Petteruti] it was a possibility," said Tipton. "Nothing's been settled yet." Tipton said if they decided to proceed with the idea, a schedule would have to be worked out first to ensure that the parking operation did not interfere with school events. Tipton also said a fee would have to be agreed upon, but that, "It wouldn't be huge."

Lily Ogden, principal of Saratoga Elementary, said she has not heard the proposal to use the school's paved area, but she doesn't think it would be very practical.

"We haven't been approached," Ogden said. "But we have such a tiny parking lot, I really don't think it would provide any solution for them."

Petteruti said the company is looking at several sites. An alternative to the school's paved area, Peacock said, could be the parking area behind the drugstore and the BP gas station on Big Basin Way.

Another concern is how to make sure the valet service doesn't cause more congestion than it solves. "One thing we are concerned about, if this thing does become very popular, is stacking the cars on the street, waiting for the valets," Peacock said.

Peacock said the city and Corinthian would have to look closely at addressing that possibility to prevent traffic problems. But, overall, Peacock said, he thought the idea was worth trying.

"If we can get cars parked on the outlying areas of the village, it will reduce congestion and open up spaces for people driving around looking for parking," Peacock said. "So, it's a way of multiplying the parking in the village."

Peacock said that, once the proposal is worked out, it would have to go before the City Council for approval. In that way, the city, through Community Development Director Paul Curtis, could redesignate two or three parking spaces in front of Bella Saratoga as loading-area-only spaces and provide the Sheriff's Department the means of enforcing parking violations in those spaces.

Bella Saratoga's owner, Bill Cooper, said he is worried what effect the loading area in front of his restaurant will have on his business, especially the patio area on the street.

Cooper said he was concerned the activity in front of his restaurant could ruin the ambiance of patio dining. But, on the other hand, he said, "Most people sit out there because they like to see what's going on. It could improve it."

Cooper said he supports trying out the valet service, but will wait until he gets feedback before he makes a final judgment.