The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Sign of Confusion: Aqui owner Dave O'Mara says customers of other businesses can park in his lot, but may be towed if they abuse the privilege.

Aqui owner opens his parking lot to others

But 'good neighbor' keeps his right to tow away intact

By Mary Spicuzza

When Aqui Cal-Mex Grille owner Dave O'Mara opened his parking lot to other businesses along his stretch of Lincoln Avenue, his good-neighbor policy won him kudos from the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association.

Yet some shoppers are hesitant to take advantage of Aqui's offer of parking, noting the numerous signs posted around the lot stating, "Parking for Aqui patrons only. All violators will be towed."

The signs prompted Willow Glen shopper Sandy Dabanian to send a letter to The Resident, asking, "If I park there will he pay for the $185 towing charge?"

O'Mara explains that leaving warning signs up was not an oversight, but a way to protect his economic interests in the event of future hitches in his good-neighbor policy.

"I must maintain the signs so that at any point in the future I can defend our economic interests," O'Mara says, noting that he will tow if use of his lot gets out of hand and customers of businesses that already have off-site parking continue to use his lot instead.

O'Mara requested additional parking on July 8 after city officials told him he wasn't providing the required number of spaces for his patrons. After the Planning Commission granted him a conditional-use permit for an off-site lot behind MBA Architects, O'Mara decided to open the lot to all Willow Glen shoppers--as long as it doesn't get out of hand.

O'Mara says that if he intends to start towing, he will notify The Resident before instituting such a policy. He adds that his towing signs are not unique to the Willow Glen community.

"What is unique is the stupidity of an owner who would pay for a lot, then allow other businesses to use it," O'Mara adds, choking with laughter. He reports spending $15,000 on the permit to secure extra parking.

For those still wary of parking where there are tow-away signs posted, San Jose Police Officer Mike Richmond says, "The owner of a property would have to contact private parking control and initiate towing."

O'Mara says he hopes to be a pioneer in good-neighbor parking policies, and encourages other businesses to follow his lead in looking for solutions to Willow Glen's parking crunch.

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