La Mesa City Council grapples with housing and parking concerns
Councilmember Laura Lothian criticizing city tactics on parking issues
By Alexander J. Schorr
March 29, 2026 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa City council met on March 24 to try and tackle the “parking crisis” fueled by new housing development in the Downtown Village.
La Mesa is currently facing massive tension over the need for affordable housing and a growing parking crisis in its Downtown Village district. Recent developments have prioritized transit-oriented housing with reduced parking requirements, sparking concerns from local business owners and residents about the long-term impact on the area’s accessibility and economic health.
The housing shortage has prompted a project approved by the MTS board for 150 new housing units. Local merchants— like those at the La Mesa Village Merchants Association— are concerned that residents from these new units will occupy public lots and street spaces overnight and make it difficult for customers to find parking during business hours.
Some city leaders, including Councilmember Laura Lothian, have criticized a perceived focus on bicycle infrastructure over addressing immediate parking scarcity. Lothian highlighted that new apartment complexes, such as the 147-unit project at 8181 Allison Avenue, will only provide 108 parking spaces, and noted that a future project on Palm Avenue with over 100 units but only around 70 available spaces.
She argued that these tenants will "consume a lot of parking spaces," specifically noting that residents typically don't vacate these spots until at least 8:00 a.m., which prevents turnover for early morning visitors and customers. Lothian criticized the idea that being “near transit” leads to fewer cars, calling the premise of public transit replacing car ownership “deceptive.”
Additionally, Lothian has also proposed a strict “15 strikes and you’re out” policy to address the homelessness crisis; she had previously advocated for relocating homeless populations to sites outside the city, such as Campo, to reduce encampments and similar public health issues.
Kristine Alessio, a former La Mesa City Councilmember and 2022 mayoral candidate now running for Supervisor, has consistently advocated for protecting residential neighborhoods from the “spillover” effects of high-density development. Her stance on parking balances support for growth while maintaining neighborhood character and accessibility.
During her previous mayoral run, she was a critic of trolley safety, pressuring MTS to install turnstiles and increase security to boost ridership.She has consistently advocated for a more aggressive street repair schedule, arguing that “our streets are the backbone of our daily lives,” and that they must be better maintained to support public transit and pedestrian safety.
Alessio emphasizes “common sense” and “responsible development," often arguing that while the city must grow, it should not do so at the expense of residents' ability to find parking near their homes or businesses.
Community members at the meeting expressed frustration that “car owners will be parking all over the surrounding streets” because developers’ studies — often accepted by the city — have claimed that street parking was adequate despite local evidence to the contrary.
New Ideas and increasing parking rates
The city of La Mesa is exploring the idea of adding more angled parking spaces and has discussed the possibility of building a new parking garage, although funding and location remain major obstacles. In the March 10, 2026 meeting, the Council approved a four-way stop at the intersection of Lemon Avenue and 3rd Street to improve safety near the downtown area. Critics argue that reliance on mass transit to solve parking issues is unrealistic for a region that is geographically spread-out like San Diego County.
Parking in La Mesa’s Downtown Village (Parking District One) underwent several significant changes recently, including a doubling of meter rates. Rates doubled from $0.75 to $1.50 per hour for all 433 meters in the Downtown Village, which was the first increase in 20 years. The Mayor recently supported the doubling of parking meter rates on January 1, 2026, arguing that the revenue is necessary for downtown infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
But the meter rates don’t apply overnight or on Sundays and holidays, when meters are free, thus higher rates won’t address the potential problem of apartment residents taking up city parking spaces.
Currently, the city replaced its two-tiered system with a flat rate of $80 per quarter (or $288) for business employee permits. The projected $273,000 in annual revenue is earmarked for downtown improvements, including street washing, maintenance, and holiday lighting.
Business Parking Permits have consolidated into a single tier costing $80 per quarter or $288 per year. Enforcement hours for parking are in play Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, except for designated holidays. Citations must be paid within 21 days of issuance. A failure to pay within the 21-day avenue can result in the original fine doubling in amount.
You can pay La Mesa parking citations by mail, by phone, online via PayMyCite (at the La Mesa Police department), or in person at the La Mesa City Hall. Unpaid citations may lead to a $10 DMV hold and the forwarding of the penalty to the DMV, which will prevent vehicle re-registration until all fines are cleared.
However, as of January 1, 2026, a new California law allows for potential waiving or reduction of parking citation fees for individuals who can document extreme financial hardship or homelessness.
The council’s response
The council is grappling with "parking crunches” caused by new apartment complexes that have fewer parking spots than units. For example, there is a 100-unit complex on Palm Avenue that was noted for having only 70 designated spaces. Already, parking can be hard to find, particularly during special events, such as the Farmer’s Market on Fridays, when some would-be visitors may have to walk blocks or give up and leave when convenient spaces are unavailable.
To manage this long-term, the La Mesa Municipal Code allows developers in the downtown zone to pay an in-lieu parking fee to satisfy off street parking requirements, and is capped at 60 spaces per project, which can potentially fund future public parking solutions.
City Manager Greg Humora confirmed that a detailed parking study for the Downtown Village Specific Plan is underway to determine the exact “threshold” that would trigger the construction of a new public parking garage.
Mayor Mark Arapostathis has recently framed the intersection of parking and housing as a balance between supporting the city’s growth and maintaining neighborhood character. His positions were highlighted in his March 2026 State of the City address and recent Council sessions: Arapostathis expressed that while housing is a priority, it is difficult to find locations where high-density developments can be built without negatively impacting existing neighborhood parking. Arapostathis advocates for developers who create projects that fit the “ambience” of the area.
Arapostathis said he believes that the city must do more to educate the public on housing laws, specifically the types of developments that are legally allowed and how they can interact with existing infrastructure. The Mayor has applauded the city’s progress in affordable housing, specifically projects located near the trolley line — such as 8181 Allison Ave. — which potentially reduces the need for heavy parking infrastructure.
The launch of five pre-approved “fast-track” accessory dwelling unit designs aims to streamline the addition of affordable housing on existing residential lots. La Mesa issued about 1,500 housing-releated permits in 2025, which the Mayor characterized as a year “defined by progress” in meeting regional housing demands. This includes continued support for the Affordable Homes Density Bonus Program, which has added hundreds of units to the city’s pipeline.
You can view meeting videos and official minutes through the La Mesa eSCRIBE portal or the city’s YouTube channel. The next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday April 14, 2026. Submit comments through the Agenda Center once an agenda is published, up until 24 hours before the meeting.