Mayor Chance Mullen responded at the Feb. 11 village board meeting to concerns about long-term parking raised by residents at the trustees’ previous meeting. A group that lives in the apartment building at 305 Sixth Ave. returned to speak again about their problems since the new Municipal Building and Pelham House rental project took over two village lots.
Mullen said village staff will start following a policy during the construction of Pelham House of not granting multiple permits to people on the waitlist until everyone gets at least one. The period of construction will last approximately 18 to 24 months, and, according to Mullen, will result in 60 public parking spaces in the completed building.
“We need stability and clarity,” said Mullen. “I want to make sure we have the most efficient system we can while we’re going through this period.”
Mullen said he is gathering information about the parking permit waitlist and will bring the issue up again at the next board meeting on Tuesday for trustees to discuss.
At the previous meeting, Dr. Rookaya Bawa and others who live at 305 Sixth Ave. said many are struggling to get parking permits and find places to park. Another resident, Katarina Taylor, described her struggle to find parking even with a permit. Taylor suggested then the village remove the two-hour or overnight parking restrictions on Sixth Avenue.
On that idea, Mullen said he, as well as the village police chief and fire chief, worry that removing the restrictions would cause paid permit users to take the free parking spots, worsening the overall parking situation.
During public comment, Bawa brought up several points. First, Bawa asked why residents of Sixth Avenue with permits could not park close to their homes during the day, noting there are areas in Pelham where permits are given to people right outside their homes. “Why is there a discrepancy between certain areas and other areas?” she said.
She also wanted the board to reconsider waiving the two-hour restriction during the construction period. Mullen said a waiver would not improve the situation.
“I think there are some desperate families, and there needs to be a reaching out to the desperate families in our building,” said Bawa. She also said it was shameful that during the downpour and snowstorm the week before, people parking near the apartment building were given parking tickets.