A resident who contacted the Klaipėda municipality stated that according to publicly available data from the Register Center, the land plot at Šilutės plentas 62 is formed only under the shopping center building, while the parking lot falls on unformed state land.
The Klaipėda resident is convinced that in such a case a private company could not arbitrarily install a paid parking system and collect fees from drivers.
The resident asked the municipality’s Public Order Department to assess whether the “ParkOK” signs are legally installed on state land, and if violations are found – to require their removal.
The municipality began to investigate
The situation surprised the specialists of Klaipėda municipality as well. After receiving the resident’s complaint, an investigation began into the basis for planning to charge for parking.
The municipality had questions about whether the shopping center operator has the right to operate and charge for the parking lot located on state land.
However, Darius Krasnauskas, a representative of the company “Menesa” that manages the building next to the parking lot, told “Vakarų ekspresas” that they did not ask for the municipality’s permission and claimed that they are not violating any rules.
According to him, although the land plot is formed only under the commercial building, the parking lot itself is registered as an engineering structure in the Real Estate Register. However, when asked at what address the parking lot is registered, the interlocutor did not specify a particular address.
“Everything is legal. The parking lot is registered as an engineering structure and belongs to us. It has a unique number. The fact that the land plot is not formed does not mean that we cannot operate the parking lot,” said D. Krasnauskas.
He stated that the company maintains this area with its own funds.
“We bought the building. The parking lot has always been ours. We maintain it, manage it, invest in it. We spent about 40 thousand euros on the last repair,” explained the company representative.
The system will start operating in the coming days
According to D. Krasnauskas, programming work on the parking system is currently being completed, so paid parking may begin in the coming days.
He said that for some time drivers will be able to leave their cars for free, and later a fee will be applied – as in many shopping centers.
“There will be a standard procedure – a certain time free, then payment will be required,” he said.
According to the interlocutor, the purpose of paid parking is not additional income, but the problem of disorderly parking.
“Cars are constantly left here all day, access roads and pedestrian paths are blocked. We want to introduce order,” explained D. Krasnauskas.
They have the documents
Adomas Rimkevičius, a representative of the company “CityPro” implementing the “ParkOK” paid parking system, also told the “Vakarų ekspresas” portal that the system is being installed legally.
“The client of the parking lot has all the documents and permits necessary for the operation of the parking lot and the provision of parking services,” he indicated.
According to A. Rimkevičius, “ParkOK” in this case acts only as the technical administrator of the parking system.
“We are not the owners or tenants of the land plot, so documents related to land use rights are administered by the parking lot client. If additional information is needed, it should be requested directly from them,” commented the company representative.
Meanwhile, Klaipėda municipality continues to investigate the situation. Decisions regarding possible violations should become clear soon.
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