As many are aware the Sydenstryker lot has become even more popular as of late and the parking situation continues to be a challenge. The main lot is full before 0700 and the community center fills by approximately 0710 which means everyone else parks on the side of the street, sometimes extending mile from the actual lot.
Recently I approached Senior Pastor Rev. Jim Thomas (pastor1@sumcdi), about opening some of the 82 parking spaces they have directly across the street from the Slug parking lot. Ill summarize some main points from our discussion:
1. The church has a long history of conflict with the county which shapes the view of the board of trustees.
2. The church has been trying to get a permit to open an attached to the church (that the county says is too close to a water line), for over 10 years
3. For over a year the church has been trying to get a permit from VDOT to close Hooes road in front of the church for a day to move the water line.
4. The church has been repeatedly fined by the county (recently for leaving up a banner advertising a school activity for one extra day and also for the brick wall in front of the cellular tower which the county classified as an oversized sign.)
5. The church sold the current Slug parking lot to the county for a VERY low price.
6. The county asked the church to open some their parking with no offer from the county to help maintain the parking lot, the church declined.
7. The senior pastor lives across the street from the church and is also impacted by the daily parking, his family can never return home during the day and park in front of their own home.
Rev Thomas suggested the church would consider selling parking passes for their lot. I conducted an informal survey and everyone I asked thought that was a bad idea, it went against the culture and intent of slugging.
Sadly this appears to be a battle between the church and the county that prevents a solution for everyone else. Rev Thomas was open to other ideas, please feel free to contact him if you have another suggestion.
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