Guests at the San Diego Zoo could begin paying for parking in the so-called “zoo lot” as early as October under the terms of a proposed lease amendment with the city of San Diego.

Earlier this summer, when the city revealed its plans to begin charging to park at Balboa Park, many pointed out that drivers would just make their way north, to the zoo lot, where a deal had not been hammered out and, presumably, they could park for free.

That concept died on Wednesday when city officials announced the proposed agreement with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, aka the Zoological Society of San Diego.

“Due to the current plans to implement paid parking in Balboa Park, the Society approached the City and has requested to amend the parking section (Section 7) of the zoo lease in order to charge different rates for visitors who park in what is commonly referred to as the ‘Zoo Parking Lot’ and referenced in the lease as, ‘the parking lot at the east end of the gardens’,” reads a staff report from the city.

The staff report goes on to say that because charging to park in Balboa Park is imminent, and because crafting a new lease for the zoo would take “months,” the amended lease was being crafted so that “the two parking efforts can be implemented and coordinated concurrently.”

How much it will cost to park in the zoo lot is not yet known, but the amended lease does stipulate that “[said] parking fees shall not exceed an amount necessary to reimburse Society for its costs of maintenance and operation of the public parking facility.”

Other details are still to be worked out and made public, including whether zoo members would get a different, discounted parking rate.

A draft plan for the parking lots by city for Balboa Park has three pricing tiers — Levels 1, 2, and 3 — based on demand and proximity.

  • Level 1 lots, located in the core of the Central Mesa area, would be subject to the highest rate — $12 a day, $6 for residents. These include: Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, Pan American Plaza (Palisades), Casa de Balboa, Fleet Science Center North (Pepper Grove North), the Natural History Museum and South Carousel lots
  • Level 2 lots would be priced at 50% of the Level 1 rate. These include: Fleet Science Center South (Pepper Grove South), Starlight Bowl (Federal), Marston Point and Veterans Museum
  • Level 3 lots would also be priced at 50% of the Level 1 rate, but with the first two hours free to preserve access for short-term visitors. This includes Inspiration Point.

In addition, $2.50 an hour parking is coming to streets inside Balboa Park, including President’s Way, Village Place, Balboa Drive, El Prado, Quince Street and Juniper Street, as well as Park Boulevard and Sixth Avenue.

A city spokeswoman, Leslie Wolf Branscomb, told NBC 7 that employees are being considered in a proposal being presented to the city council.

” … the preliminary plan … includes a recommendation that parking remain free all day for Balboa Park employees and volunteers at the Tier 2 and 3 lots (not the ones closest to the center of the park).”

The San Diego City Council is expected to take up the topic of zoo parking and the amended lease on Monday when it next convenes.