By Andrew Coen
Parking will now cost 25 cents per hour in long-term lots and 25 cents per half-hour in short-term spaces. Meters currently charge a quarter for two hours of long-term parking and a dime for 30 minutes in short-term spaces.
The reason [for the increase] is our meters have not been raised in about 20 years, said Lawrence Village Mayor Dr. Jack Levenbrown. This is also to mirror what the Village of Cedarhurst has. Cedarhurst increased the parking fees at meters to 25 cents for every hour earlier this year.
According to Mayor Levenbrown, village officials had planned on getting new parking meters and then raising the fees, but instead decided they could save money by adjusting the existing meters. We found out that we can [adjust] the meters instead of buying new ones, said Levenbrown.
Many people who use the long-term meters in the municipal parking lot off Frost Lane are upset about the increase. I think it's crazy, said Malverne resident Anna Midum, whose daughter attends The Brandeis School. There is not enough parking to begin with and now to increase it like that is just ridiculous.
I'm against anything that they increase, said Inwood resident Sally Tilal.
Lawrence resident Howard Shapiro doesn't like the way the village is spending money and trying to bring in more money. Instead of raising taxes and meters, they should be cutting spending, said Shapiro.
According to Lawrence Village Administrator Peter Overs, increasing the parking meter fees will bring in about $100,000 in additional revenue for the village each year.
One woman, who identified herself only as Tova, did not think the increase was that bad. In New York City it's a lot worse, so even though it's being increased, it's not so bad as long as they don't keep raising it, she said.
In addition to the meter increases, the meters will now operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day except for federal holidays. Currently the meters operate five days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays.
The apartment district parking on Central Avenue between Rockaway Turnpike and Lawrence Avenue will continue to be 24-hour meter parking excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Lawrence residents who live in apartments have the option of buying an overnight sticker for $300 a year that allows them to park at the meters from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. without feeding the meters with quarters.
According to Levenbrown, the new parking rates will take effect in about two weeks, when the existing meters are adjusted.
The Sept. 10 meeting was the second in a row during which a parking-related matter was raised. At the July 23 meeting, the board approved an increase in fines for parking violations. An expired-meter violation was raised from $10 to $15, overtime parking from $10 to $15, double parking from $25 to $50, prohibited parking from $25 to $35 and restricted parking from $25 to $35. The no-stopping fine was increased from $25 to $35, no standing from $25 to $35, head-in parking from $10 to $15, time stalled from $20 to $35, no-permit from $25 to $35, parking in a loading zone from $25 to $35, parking in a bus stop from $25 to $50, parking by a fire hydrant from $25 to $50 and a no-parking violation from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. from $15 to $25. A new violation for parking on the wrong side of the curb is $25, and handicapped parking violations remain the same, at $100.
The next meeting of the Lawrence Village Board of Trustees is scheduled for Oct. 8.
