Consultant vs.Resident.–Who Knows New Rochelle Better?

A parking survey taken on three different days, two of which were in pouring rain, found the metered on-street parking spaces in New Rochelle’s downtown were “full”. “Full” was defined by Jim Zullo of Tim Haas and Associates as beyond 85% occupancy,. Zullo and another consultant, Lawrence Bier, conducted the study for the New Rochelle City Council and the BID (Business Improvement District). Their recommendations included gearing up to use cell phones to pay for the meters or using credit cards. Police cars they said can now identify scofflaws and stolen vehicles with a license recognition machine.
For maximization of parking areas in downtown, the concept of shared parking was suggested, because the consultants felt over-night permits could be issued for the off-street parking lots. They felt residents should be pushed “into off-street lots” using variable rates and time limits. The three lots they mentioned were the Division Street, Prospect Street and Maple Avenue parking lots. Currently street parking has a two hour limit until 6 p.m and then street parking is free. After 6 p.m.they thought the street parking meters could be programmed for paying for up to four hours. The south Library and Avalon lots and the three previously mentioned could be used overnight from 6 p.m. to 8 or 9 a.m. by issuing a low cost parking permit which might cost $20 per month. An audit to identify where more street parking meters can be installed was also suggested.
A profit and loss statement for each parking lot as well as a Parking Advocacy Committee was recommended. This Committee could be used as a forum for residents instead of having an “us against them” mentality. Signage and lighting should be improved. Both consultants felt parking enforcement was key to their recommendations. Mayor Bramson wanted to know if they had specifics and what the rate structure should be so that the Council could have something to react to. It was decided the consultants should come back by the end of the month.
Councilman Richard St. Paul found “little effect” on the changes in parking enforcement hours that had been made. The consultants insisted that overnight street parking regulations were not being enforced while the lots are 50% empty. Bier used as an example “urban dwellers” who adjust to street cleaning schedules. The Council he said should “force people into the lots.” St. Paul asserted the night-time parking regulations are being enforced.
When the consultants surveyed The Prospect Street lot, they found the building side had three rows of cars “inundated with permit parkers” but at the far end near Prospect Street no users. Councilman Al Tarantino wanted to know how difficult it would be to implement their plans and was answered, “enforcement was needed.” Bramson suggested getting parking figures for the Prospect Street lot.
When Chuck Strome, City Manager, was asked about the study, he said,” the City and the Business Improvement District jointly commissioned the parking study to look at our downtown parking situation. We look forward to the final report and drafting an implementation plan for its recommendations.:
After the meeting Councilman Lou Trangucci said he had voted against the resolution for the parking charges in the lots at night. This study was handed to the Council members the same night as the meeting and he wanted to run some of this information past his constituents. One south end resident in his district wants to know why all these fees and charges should fall on the south end of the city. North end residents do not have people parking on their streets the way we do and we don’t have a lot of places to ;park to begin with.
Gary Torigian, an owner of Spectators, expressed concern with the recommendations to extend the street parking metered hours at night. He said, “With the times as bad as they are, this would be a tax on our customers.” At this point we “can’t even draw New Rochelle residents down here.” He continued, that surrounding communities form a contrast to New Rochelle. Eastchester has free parking, and Larchmont. Rye’s paid parking ends at six. Comparing New Rochelle to White Plains is not realistic. White Plains has many working people during the day but New Rochelle will need to get workers to support its businesses. “I am not negative, just realistic.”
Bob Arnold has a heritage that goes back to 1845 as a property owner in New Rochelle. He said, “I don’t think it is right to have to pay to use a public street to park. Years ago you used to have to pay a toll on the Hutchinson and Merritt Parkways. People complained and they took the barriers down. We don’t need any additional parking meters. Why should Avalon get a 30 year tax abatement and Cappelli get any tax abatements when he’s not building anything?”
Questioning, “Who was the genius that changed the regulations in the public lots,” George Imburgia felt the regulations should be reverted to what they were so people could park free overnight. “I live next to the Maple Avenue Parking Lot – all of which is visible from my window. There are about l0 cars at meters at night, most of the lot is empty which means people are parking elsewhere, probably on the residents’ streets. I think in these difficult economic times, the people should not have this burden on their backs. Make New Rochelle a City that has consideration for the average person. Who knows better: the citizens of New Rochelle who live here, or the consultants who don’t live here?”

In the June 30, 2011 issue of the Westchester Guardian