Starting on Aug. 1, 2011, any person without an University Park resident parking permit will no longer be allowed to park on neighborhood streets surrounding the SMU campus Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (TAYLOR HENRY/The Daily Campus)

On March 15, the University Park City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to establish a residential parking district that will require residents living within the district to have a parking permit.

This ordinance that will go into effect Aug.1 has caused much commotion on SMU’s campus.

While many students rely on the two-hour parking limits, others welcome the results of the nearly year-long study in response to the complaints from UP residents.

As a resident of McFarlin Boulevard, one of the streets included in the district, junior Annie Bures approves of the ordinance for she often finds herself frustrated as she searches for parking spots.

“The problem is not simply that non-residents park on the street, but that they often park in sections of the block designated to residents by their landlords,” Bures said.

Allie Feldman, who currently does not live on a street included in the district, acknowledges that the streets are often crowded.

“Some residents can get frustrated when there is no parking in front of their homes; however, these residents knew about the street conditions prior to moving in,” Feldman said.

Feldman was considering moving onto Rosedale next year.

“Now, with these new regulations, I am more hesitant to live on the street,” she said.

Bures also believes the real problem is that SMU parking permits are too expensive for many students, faculty and administration.

“If the school could provide a cheaper parking option for students and employees there would be no need for them to park off campus,” she said.

Currently, students can purchase parking passes for a minimum of $130 per semester.

William Floyd, a resident of Rosedale, agrees with Bures.

“It is often hard to find parking anywhere even though I have a reserved spot,” he said.

Floyd also raised the concern that the regulations may not be enforced.

“There are already parking ‘restrictions’ on those two streets (McFarlin and Rosedale) which are never enforced,” he said. “So what will make students think that they will be (enforced) with the new ones?”

While residents are concerned with the parking rules, many non-residents also think it will be a hindrance to visit friends who live in the district.

“The new rules will make it a pain to visit people on those streets during the weekdays,” junior Marshall Hernandez said.

Hernandez added that he parks on streets, usually Rosedale, to visit friends not to go to class.

“I doubt the majority of people parking on those streets are doing it to avoid a semester parking permit,” he said.

The new restrictions will only apply Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.