By JEFF LIPTON
Real estate agent Joe Sinnona expressed the same fear for the tenants who live in his building on Ohio Street. “The West End always seems to get the short end of the stick,” Sinnona said. “Why are these projects being destructive to the quality of life? We have to nip this in the bud.”
Papetti and Sinnona were reacting to a proposal the city said is aimed at alleviating parking problems in the West End. The plan calls for establishing residential parking zones, issuing two stickers to each legal household and allowing its residents to park on their own block. Legal apartments would receive one sticker, as would homes with only one registered vehicle. Vehicles without stickers or with stickers from another zone would not be allowed to park on a given block; nor would visitors such as bar patrons, shoppers or beach-goers.
During a West End Neighbors Association meeting on Oct. 1, an overwhelming majority of residents indicated with a show of hands that they were opposed to the plan. Residents said they feel as if the city is forcing the plan on them.
“How can they put this into effect, especially when so many residents are against it?” said Papetti, a resident of Wisconsin Street for 27 years. He said that he, his wife and his 23-year-old daughter have cars, and his 19-year-old also wants his own car soon. Under the city plan, however, only two of them would be allowed to park on their street.
“What will my kids do?” Papetti said. “Are they saying they can’t live here because they can’t park their car here? The city is forcing young people to live elsewhere.”
He said he would favor signing a petition to stop the plan before it is put into effect.
Sinnona has five tenants in his building on Ohio Street, and one will not be able to park on that block under the plan.
Residents said that there are parking problems year-round, but the city proposal is not the solution. “We need a comprehensive plan of action that will help the whole community,” said Sinnona, who lives in East Atlantic Beach. “There are too many loopholes in this plan and the plan doesn’t make sense. The community wants a different plan. ”
He said the city must consider input from West End residents before any action is taken.
City Manager Charles Theofan called the proposal “a work in progress” and denied that it would be forced on residents. “First of all, no plan will ever be forced down anyone’s throat,” Theofan said.
Theofan and Gerry Giosa, a parking consultant hired by the city, initially met with the neighbors association on Aug. 28 to outline the proposal, which was intended as a way to end parking problems in the West End. “That was the first of many meetings,” Theofan said. “This is far from a finished product. This is a slow process. There will be no surprises. The city will work with the West End neighbors.”
Giosa studied parking in the West End along with a committee comprising Theofan and neighbors association President Rick Hoffman and Vice President Maria Fitzgerald.
At the Oct. 1 meeting, residents said that Hoffman seemed to be pushing the plan and did not seem willing to represent the wishes of the vast majority of the members.
Hoffman was recently appointed to a seat on the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals, which some suggested appeared to be a conflict with his position as association president. Although Hoffman did not return calls for comment, Theofan defended him, saying, “There is no conflict. He doesn’t work for the city. Being a member of the board, he will be completely independent.”
Theofan added that if a conflict arises and Hoffman is asked to decide on a zoning case in the West End, he will recuse himself. He also said that Hoffman is volunteering his time to improve the community, and for him to come under scrutiny is ridiculous. “It’s a terrible shame,” said Theofan. “Any person who dedicates his time for the good of the community should not be subjected to that type of criticism.”
The two-sticker-per-household proposal is part of a four-point strategy to alleviate parking problems faced by residents and business owners. The committee also recommended the implementation of paid parking on Beech Street, with multi-space meters. Parking along this primarily commercial street is currently free, allowing drivers to park for extended periods and limiting the number of spaces for shoppers.
According to Giosa, charging for parking would generate revenue from visitors, which would offset the additional costs of the plan and help finance other improvements in the city. Parking fees would be in effect from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week during the summer months, and six days a week in the off-season.
Under the committee’s proposal, the city would also increase the number of parking spaces by building new lots, reconfiguring existing lots, seeking leasing opportunities with private landowners and combining bus stops with fire hydrant locations.
Before any plan is implemented, Theofan said, the city will attempt to crack down on illegal renters: Letters will be mailed to all homes in the West End, notifying homeowners that they will have four months to evict illegal tenants. This should free up parking spots, he said, adding, “This should make a difference.”
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
