Babylon Village to extend on-street parking meter hours until 10 p.m.
Mayor Mary Adams said that about 300 meters were installed in Babylon Village decades ago, with two-hour limits to prevent vehicles from parking in front of businesses for long periods. Credit: /Tom Lambui
Babylon Village is extending its hours for street parking meters, leading some business owners to worry the move will drive patrons away.
The village announced on its Facebook page Monday that starting April 7 street meters will remain in effect until 10 p.m. The coin-operated meters, which have a two-hour limit and cost 25 cents an hour, currently are free after 6 p.m.
Parking meter fines start at $35, officials said.
Mayor Mary Adams said about 300 meters were installed in the village decades ago, including along Main Street and Deer Park Avenue, with two-hour limits to prevent vehicles from parking in front of businesses for long periods. But, she said, that’s exactly what officials had noticed with vehicles after 6 p.m.
“We’re trying to make this better for retail, so people aren’t staying there for nine hours and if someone wants to pick up a cake or pick up a gift and there’s no parking there, they leave,” she said.
Adams said this has been happening for a while, and officials “just thought it was probably time to [extend the meter time].” She said as mayor and a small-business owner in the village, she wants to be proactive and “protect our downtown.”
The mayor said those who want to park for longer can use one of the seven municipal lots, which use parking kiosks that permit extended parking. Parking at meters is free on Sundays.
Adams said the meter time extension did not require a resolution or public hearing. She acknowledged she had not talked to business owners nor the village’s chamber of commerce prior to the announcement but declined to say why she didn't.
Most reaction to the Facebook post was critical, with people saying the move would result in Argyle Theater patrons having to leave during intermission and restaurant diners leaving midmeal to feed the meters. Business owners said they wished there had been conversations with them before the announcement.
“I think it’s kind of disrespectful to the businesses to give a week’s notice,” Kelly Peckholdt, owner of Positions Dance Studio on Deer Park Avenue, said.
Jackie DiDonato, owner of Pandemonium Boutique on Deer Park Avenue, agreed, saying there “definitely needs to be more communication between government and businesses” and that there could have been a compromise had owners been consulted.
Adams said the additional meter revenue is needed to help bring down tax increases for the upcoming budget. According to budget documents, the village has collected $464,628 in parking meter fees through March 14 for the fiscal year ending May 31. It had projected bringing in $720,000 for the year.
Adams said the village is considering replacing the coin meters with a modern kiosk system, but there is no money in the proposed budget for the estimated $50,000 to $90,000 price tag.
Peckholdt said her dance studio is open until 9 or 10 p.m. and worries the meter time extension will frustrate families, causing them to go to another studio.
DiDonato said her business, which closes by 8 p.m., won’t be directly impacted but she is concerned the change will deter visitors. “It’ll affect my business when people start talking about Babylon in a negative way,” she said.
Dylan Perlman, co-owner of the Argyle, said most evening theatergoers already park in a lot because they go to dinner nearby before a show. “We really do have quite ample, affordable, convenient parking in the village,” he said.
Tom Vitale, president of the village’s chamber of commerce, doesn’t think the new meter rules will have a long-term impact on businesses. “There may be some short-term strife from this, but that’s with any change,” he said.
Vitale said he is scheduling chamber town hall meetings and will then set up a meeting with the mayor to share concerns so they can “talk about how we can mitigate circumstances like this in the future.”
Babylon Village is extending its hours for street parking meters, leading some business owners to worry the move will drive patrons away.
The village announced on its Facebook page Monday that starting April 7 street meters will remain in effect until 10 p.m. The coin-operated meters, which have a two-hour limit and cost 25 cents an hour, currently are free after 6 p.m.
Parking meter fines start at $35, officials said.
Mayor Mary Adams said about 300 meters were installed in the village decades ago, including along Main Street and Deer Park Avenue, with two-hour limits to prevent vehicles from parking in front of businesses for long periods. But, she said, that’s exactly what officials had noticed with vehicles after 6 p.m.
“We’re trying to make this better for retail, so people aren’t staying there for nine hours and if someone wants to pick up a cake or pick up a gift and there’s no parking there, they leave,” she said.
Adams said this has been happening for a while, and officials “just thought it was probably time to [extend the meter time].” She said as mayor and a small-business owner in the village, she wants to be proactive and “protect our downtown.”
The mayor said those who want to park for longer can use one of the seven municipal lots, which use parking kiosks that permit extended parking. Parking at meters is free on Sundays.
Adams said the meter time extension did not require a resolution or public hearing. She acknowledged she had not talked to business owners nor the village’s chamber of commerce prior to the announcement but declined to say why she didn't.
Most reaction to the Facebook post was critical, with people saying the move would result in Argyle Theater patrons having to leave during intermission and restaurant diners leaving midmeal to feed the meters. Business owners said they wished there had been conversations with them before the announcement.
“I think it’s kind of disrespectful to the businesses to give a week’s notice,” Kelly Peckholdt, owner of Positions Dance Studio on Deer Park Avenue, said.
Jackie DiDonato, owner of Pandemonium Boutique on Deer Park Avenue, agreed, saying there “definitely needs to be more communication between government and businesses” and that there could have been a compromise had owners been consulted.
Meter hours in Babylon Village will soon be extended to 10 p.m. Credit: /Tom Lambui
Adams said the additional meter revenue is needed to help bring down tax increases for the upcoming budget. According to budget documents, the village has collected $464,628 in parking meter fees through March 14 for the fiscal year ending May 31. It had projected bringing in $720,000 for the year.
Adams said the village is considering replacing the coin meters with a modern kiosk system, but there is no money in the proposed budget for the estimated $50,000 to $90,000 price tag.
Peckholdt said her dance studio is open until 9 or 10 p.m. and worries the meter time extension will frustrate families, causing them to go to another studio.
DiDonato said her business, which closes by 8 p.m., won’t be directly impacted but she is concerned the change will deter visitors. “It’ll affect my business when people start talking about Babylon in a negative way,” she said.
Dylan Perlman, co-owner of the Argyle, said most evening theatergoers already park in a lot because they go to dinner nearby before a show. “We really do have quite ample, affordable, convenient parking in the village,” he said.
Tom Vitale, president of the village’s chamber of commerce, doesn’t think the new meter rules will have a long-term impact on businesses. “There may be some short-term strife from this, but that’s with any change,” he said.
Vitale said he is scheduling chamber town hall meetings and will then set up a meeting with the mayor to share concerns so they can “talk about how we can mitigate circumstances like this in the future.”
Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.
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