Government

‘Perfect Storm’ Brewing at Locust Avenue Parking Lot

By |

Problems of overuse at what long had been New Canaan’s least busy parking lot are expected very soon to worsen, and town officials are trying to figure out how to get out ahead of what some are calling “a perfect storm.”

The past six weeks has seen a dramatic rise in the number of motorists parking in the Locust Avenue lot. In addition to longtime regulars—including people who work on that side of town—“new” users include some personnel and construction workers at the Fire Department (where interior and exterior capital projects are underway), construction workers at the Town Hall renovation site and in-town shoppers, diners and post office visitors who, under normal circumstances, would park behind Town Hall itself or in one of the lots that rise behind it (toward Park Street). Starting in August, demolition and construction work is expected to start just down the hill on Forest Street, where a 3-story residential-and-retail complex is going up. “There is a perfect storm that is exploding over there,” Parking Bureau Superintendent Karen Miller said at the group’s May 1 meeting. “And I won’t lie to you: It’s very bad.

Government

Parking Permit Fees at New Canaan Lots to Stay Flat

By |

 

Saying New Canaan’s rail riders have endured enough pain at the hands of Metro-North, town officials decided Friday to keep parking permit fees flat at town lots. The New Canaan Parking Commission had been “somewhat divided” in making its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for fiscal year 2015, but “ultimately voted to keep everything flat,” Parking Bureau Supervisor Karen Miller said during a special meeting of the selectmen, held at the New Canaan Police Department. Here’s the fee schedule for annual permits:

Railroad/Lumberyard: $540
Richmond Hill: $432
Talmadge Hill: $432
Park Street: $396
Locust Street: $384
Telephone: $396
Center: $120

Selectman Beth Jones—recalling Metro-North’s difficulties, which in the past 12 months have included a collision in Fairfield, derailment with fatalities in Riverdale and seemingly endless weather-related delays and cancelations—said the rail line “has had a hard year and we did raise [the permit rates] last year.”

At least one New York City commuter agrees. Selectman Nick Williams said: “I have been a 20-year-plus commuter and I have never seen anything like this. This is an absolute disaster.”

The selectmen approved the fees unanimously.