The idea of adding parking meters in the West Seattle Junction is off the table, based on the May 2009 parking study done by the Seattle Department of Transportation. But what on-street changes will be made, if any, are yet to be determined.

Husky Deli owner Jack Miller doesn't want parking meters in the Junction.

"You can pull in and stop and get an ice cream cone and don't have to plug the meter," he said.

Parking study results were discussed Aug. 20 at the West Seattle Junction Parking Project Committee meeting, but official recommendations will not be released until late September, said Dante Taylor, West Seattle Junction Parking Project Manager.

"I've never really had a significant problem finding a spot," said Dave Bachman, who comes for lunch and to run errands. Bachman, a Kent resident, said he would prefer to not have to pay for parking when he comes to the Junction.

The new businesses opening, apartments and condos going up, and drivers using the area as an unofficial park-and-ride, has residents and business owners concerned about the future parking situation in the Junction.

"When I pull out of my parking spot each morning there are two to three cars waiting to pull in," explained Erica Karlovits, Junction resident and president of Junction Neighborhood Organization.

She said there are construction workers and bus commuters crowding her block on 41st Avenue Southwest and she thinks that will become worse with new businesses and condos opening - especially if those businesses don't provide employee parking.

But the transportation department study looked at the current parking situation and found that only 56 percent to 71 percent of spots were generally full in the Junction's commercial area. It also found a 90 percent compliance rate for the two-hour parking spots.

When 75 percent or more of the on-street parking spots are full, significant changes can be made by the transportation department, such as like paid parking and residential parking zones (RPZs).

"I've lived in West Seattle for seven years and enjoyed not having to pay for parking, but I also understand why people would have to pay," said resident Charlie Kothe. "Things are different than seven years ago."

According to the schedule, changes would be made starting in January 2010, and there is still time for community input. Up for consideration are adding bike racks, motorcycle and scooter parking and additional load zone spots.

The area studied was Southwest Dakota Street to the north, Southwest Brandon Street to the south, Fauntleroy Way Southwest to the east and 47th Avenue Southwest to the west. The study looked at parking in the commercial core, the proposed Bus Rapid Transit station areas and all off-street parking lots.

"In each neighborhood we implement changes we check back in in six months," said Taylor, but he added that it could be years before another study would be done, if needed.