As an Oct. 31 deadline approaches, town officials are urging commuters seeking to keep their places on waitlists for parking permits to pay a new fee.
New Canaan’s interim Parking Bureau Superintendent Stacy Miltenberg. Credit: Michael Dinan
Approved in May, the $10 is a must-pay annual fee for those who wish to remain on waitlists for coveted permits in the Lumberyard, Richmond Hill and Talmadge Hill municipal lots.
According to interim Parking Superintendent Stacy Miltenberg, just 453 people have responded to 1,281 letters sent.
Developed by the Parking Commission, the fee is designed to ensure that New Canaan has “clean” waiting lists—for example, that those still on them truly are in town and seeking a permit.
“If people no longer want or need a permit, this should reduce the timeframe on waitlists,” Miltenberg said.
Currently, Talmadge Hill’s waitlist is running about one year (possibly a bit longer), Richmond Hill three years and the Lumberyard seven to 7.5 years, she said. The permits cost upwards of $456 annually.
Everyone on the waitlists this summer received a letter from the Parking Bureau detailing the new fee and deadline. Those who decline to fill out and return a form and payment by Oct. 31 will be dropped from the waitlists, the letter said.