COVID-19 New Canaan

‘We Have Screwed Up’: Town Waives Feb. 10 Ticket for Parking in Disabled Space

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Members of the town body that hears parking ticket appeals last week voiced concerns after its chair said a violation for parking in a disabled space had been waived without the group’s input. Parking Commission Chair Keith Richey said four appeals had come in recently from ticketed motorists and that he’d discussed them with the first selectman and head of the Parking Bureau “and the conclusion was we had to waive these because this meeting wouldn’t qualify as necessary due process” for an appeal. “Maybe we will come to a different conclusion going forward, but I don’t feel too bad about having to waive four tickets,” Richey said during the Commission’s special meeting, held May 7 via videoconference. “And I’ll bet even the one with the parking in the handicapped spot, there was probably the whole street was empty so there was plenty of places for handicapped to park. That’s my guess.”

Yet under the Town Charter, the Commission is the municipal body that fields parking ticket appeals, Secretary Pam Crum said, and under an Executive Order from the governor during this public health emergency, the group can meet remotely and postpone those appeals.

Business

Moynihan: Town to Eliminate Some Parallel Parking Downtown So Restaurants Can Expand Outdoor Dining Space 

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Town officials say they’re planning to eliminate parallel parking on parts of four streets downtown in order to allow restaurants to expand outdoor dining. Restricted to pickup and delivery since the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency, restaurants could begin serving patrons outside as early as May 20, Gov. Ned Lamont has said. In New Canaan, police, public works and health officials are working on a plan that could be finalized early this week that would see expanded outdoor dining areas along parts of Elm, Forest, Main and Pine Streets, according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan. “The governor is supposed to be issuing written guidance on how to do this outdoor dining,” Moynihan told members of the Parking Commission at a special meeting held Thursday via videoconference. 

“And I understand they are going to lift all Planning and Zoning requirements. They are going to lift requirements for an outdoor liquor permit if you have an indoor liquor permit.

Government

Divided Commission Rejects Plan To Add 8 Permit Spaces in Park Street Lot

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Saying the spaces should be left to short-term shoppers and diners, members of the Parking Commission last week voted 3-2 against offering eight additional permits for the Park Street Lot. Tucked behind Elm Street near the corner of Park, the 126-space lot already accommodates 36 “commercial permit” holders, 25 individuals with grandfathered permit spaces and about 17 municipal employees, officials say. Issuing eight more permits for those who work downtown would squeeze out those seeking to pay by the hour for spaces in order to visit retail shops and restaurants, according to Parking Commission members who opposed the measure. In addition, those who work downtown should be directed to buy a permit for lots located further from the center of town, such as on Locust Avenue or on the former Center School site along Maple Street, according to Commissioner Chris Hering. “The further out you get, the longer you are able to park,” he said at the March 4 meeting, held in Town Hall.

Chris Hering

Commission Votes 4-1 To Recommend Holding Parking Permit Fees Flat

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Noting that a new sales tax from the state will drive the rates up substantially, municipal officials voted last week to recommend keeping the town’s parking permit fees flat next fiscal year. The Parking Commission voted 4-1 to leave the fees for permits at eight municipal lots flat, though motorists should expect to see a 6.35% sales tax broken out on their annual bills. The state tax “is a sizable increase, much bigger than any increase we have done in my entire term on the Parking Commission,” Chair Keith Richey said at the March 4 meeting, held at Town Hall. “And obviously this huge increase that would go along even if we didn’t increase the rates but just passed along the sales tax,” he added. “That will not add to our permit revenue.

Chris Hering

Parking Commission Votes 4-1 To Recommend Widening Spaces in Morse Court, Playhouse Lots

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The Parking Commission voted last week to recommend re-striping in two municipal parking lots so that the width of stalls is in line with New Canaan’s own zoning regulations. 

The appointed body’s 4-1 vote recommends widening spaces at Morse Court and one area of the Playhouse Lot to nine feet. Commission Secretary Pam Crum said the parking spaces in the middle area of the Playhouse Lot currently are just 7.5 feet wide. “I have been stuck three times in there where I have been wedged between two vehicles,” she said at the meeting, held in Town Hall. “I’ve had to wait until cars showed up. One time I climbed from the passenger said—barely snuck in the passenger side, and crawled over the center console to the driver’s side.”

In addition to Crum, those voting in favor of the recommendation included Chair Keith Richey and Commissioners Peter Ogilvie and Chris Hering. 

The change likely would result in the loss of about eight parking spaces, commissioners said.