My ANC colleagues, Daniel Chao and Paul Maysak, and I were asked to submit an editorial to the Georgetowner on the resident only parking proposal. In case you missed it, here it is below:
The ANC is exploring a change to how parking is managed in Georgetown that we think it will make the lives of residents a little easier. It’s called Resident Only Parking (ROP) and here’s why we think it’s worth introducing to Georgetown.
Since Covid, there has been a surge of people who commute to Georgetown and park all day. Parking enforcement has collapsed as an effective deterrent. We have helped our neighbors call, email, beg, and plead for enforcement and our ANC issued multiple resolutions as well. But few improvements have been achieved.
The city is facing steep challenges in staffing that have and will continue to limit how much more enforcement we can expect to see. We have no choice but to consider other available strategies. That’s where ROP comes in.
Currently, anyone can park in any space for two hours. Then they have to leave. Residents with Zone 2 stickers, of course, are exempt from the two hour limit and can remain for as long as they want. Contractors, nannies, etc. who hold a valid visitors parking pass (VPP) are also exempt and can remain for as long as the pass is valid.
Under ROP, approximately half the spaces on the block would be set aside for residents or those with a VPP. No one else would be allowed to park there. The other half of the spaces would remain as they currently are, open to anyone.
Each ANC Commissioner must first ask DDOT to study the blocks they wish to designate to receive ROP and DDOT will evaluate the need, then affirm or deny the request. After a block is designated ROP, if it does not help alleviate the problem as expected, the ANC reserves the right to ask DDOT to switch back to the pre-existing RPP for that block.
The city piloted the ROP in other parts of the city ten years ago with success. Residents found it easier to park closer to their home and not have to worry about carrying heavy groceries or items in and out, or resort to double parking for a minute and face the ire and angry horns of an impatient driver who can’t pass.
Based on that experience, we believe Georgetowners would see a similar improvement. We expect to consider the formal request at our March 2nd meeting. We welcome your input about what you are seeing on your block and look forward to hearing from you.
The Georgetown Metropolitan 
I can definitely understand why the residents would want this but to make it aligned to zones is flawed. Zone 2 covers areas far away from Georgetown including Logan Circle. I live like 8 min from Georgetown in the 20007 zip code and run all my errands there but I have a Zone 3 parking pass. It should be based on distance not zone. Doesn’t seem fair and makes me more likely not to run errands in Georgetown if parking is even more difficult.
Dear ANC Commissioners,
As a fifth-generation Georgetowner, I am writing to urge the Commission to prioritize strict enforcement of the current parking policy before considering any major changes.
The core issue is not necessarily the structure of the existing policy, but the lack of consistent enforcement. Many individuals park all day because there are rarely consequences. Neighbors have been asking for years that violations be consistently ticketed and towed. Before implementing new restrictions, we should ensure that the current rules are fairly and reliably enforced.
I also ask that you carefully consider the impact of parking decisions on Georgetown’s historic Black churches. Several churches in the neighborhood rely on parishioners who attend services, meetings, and choir rehearsals—many of whom are older residents. We must avoid creating policies that unintentionally function as gentrification or exclusionary measures, as has happened in other parts of DC. In the past, Black churches have struggled or closed when parishioners could not reliably find parking and ultimately stopped attending churches their families had supported for generations.
While I understand that some areas of Georgetown face significant parking challenges, restoring the spaces that existed before COVID would help increase availability for workers and visitors. Additionally, parking lots should consider discounted rates for Georgetown workers to help support our local businesses and workforce.
Before making substantial changes, I respectfully request that the ANC advocate for consistent enforcement of current regulations and ensure that any policy adjustments protect long-standing community institutions and residents.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Monica Roache’
Former 2E ANC Commissioner