Perry Hall Neighbors File Petition to Keep Student Cars Out

UPDATE (3:02 p.m.)—Loitering, vandalism, property damage and even one physical altercation in recent years have Perry Hall neighbors living across from the high school wanting to keep students from parking on their streets.

Ten homes on Perryvale Road, directly across from the high school, have agreed to file a petition to the county to impose permit parking along the street after five years of the aforementioned issues.

“Bad, bad stuff was happening,” said Lynn Levin, a Perryvale Road resident. “It’s been going on for the last fives years but the last two have been the worst.”

At its worst, Levin was assaulted by a Perry Hall student before school in March 2012.

Spray-painted fences, public urination, possible drug use and shouting matches have frustrated homeowners, Levin said. And all before first period.

Levin hopes that enforcing parking permits in the area will curb the unwanted behavior, forcing students to park on-campus, which she says isn't even at capacity.

Levin speculated that students choose to not purchase the $40 Perry Hall High School parking permit, opting instead to park for free in the surrounding neighborhoods.

“And I don’t blame them. They don’t have that kind of money,” Levin said.

Money from the parking permits benefits Perry Hall's athletics programs. Perry Hall principal George Roberts issued the following statement regarding the community parking permit program: 

I am in support of permit parking along Perryvale Road and Jacinth Way to assist the community in managing student parking issues that are present on these two neighborhood roads. 

If successful, the petition would impose a permit-only parking sign during school hours from Monday to Friday. The 10 homeowners who signed the petition agreed to a $32 joining fee and an annual $20 per car fee to park on the street in their own neighborhoods.

The agreement to file the petition was made during a Perry Hall High School Neighbors Committee meeting on Monday. 

"I established a Perry Hall High School Neighbors Committee in 2011, and as a resident near the school, know firsthand the problems sometimes associated with student loitering and parking," Councilman David Marks said. "When 100 percent of a group of homeowners want permit parking to force students to park on campus, that is a compelling level of support for me."

The issue however, stretches beyond the corner of Perryvale and Ebenezer roads. Levin said her neighbors on Hedgerow Way and Jacinth Way have reported similar issues. (See map for more details)

The petition will go before the Baltimore County Council in July. 

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