Port Chester Takes a Second Look at New Parking Meter Hours

Just a week after Port Chester approved a new law that extends the hours that motorists have to pay for parking in the downtown area, the village Board of Trustees has decided to take a second look a parking meter hours.

As part of the 2013-2014 budget, Port Chester decided to raise additional revenue by making the basic parking rate in the village $1 per hour - up from 75 cents - and keeping meters in effect until 9 p.m. Metered parking on the streets is now in effect until 6 p.m., with meters in effect in municipal lots until 7 p.m.

The Board of Trustees has decided to hold a public hearing to get comment and have a discussion on whether the cut off for meters should by 8 p.m. instead.

The increase in parking hours was proposed by Village Manager Christopher Steers as one of a series of measures to increase revenue for Port Chester to keep its tax levy increase for the new budget at zero percent. In addition to parking meter fees, the village raised the fees for various permits and fees charged by village departments.

Port Chester Mayor Neil Pagano said the Board of Trustees wants to take another look at the meter hours.

"While feedback was mixed, most accepted the 9 p.m. hour and a number were actually in favor of it," said Pagano.

At Monday night's Board of Trustees meeting, Port Chester restaurant owner Adelo Ramirez spoke out in favor of keeping the new meter hours and not changing the 9 p.m. cut off.

Ramirez, a longtime Port Chester resident who owns Los Gemelos Restaurant & Tortilleria at 167 Westchester Avenue, said that even with metered parking in effect until 9 p.m. Port Chester offers visitors lower rates that nearby communities such as White Plains, where paid parking in municipal garages is in effected 24 hours a day.

Ramirez said he supports the increased parking meter hours as a way to help keep taxes down and to help provided more on-street parking for village residents - like those who support his business. Ramirez said that in the area of his business, many out-of-town visitors come early for evening events and park for free on the streets to avoid paying for parking in a nearby lot. He contends that by keeping the metered parking - and issuing of parking tickets - in effect until 9 p.m. would encourage visitors to use the parking lot.

Port Chester Trustee Gene Ceccarelli said that in the budget discussions prior to the approval of the new parking hours, a trustee had raised the possibility of an 8 p.m. limit. Although the 9 p.m. limit was approved, Ceccarelli said those discussions led to a proposal for a hearing on May 20 to review the issue again.

"I am still of the belief that it should stay at 9 p.m., which will hopefully help to ease the tax burden on our residents," Ceccarelli said.

Pagano urged residents who would like to comment on the parking meter hours to attend the public hearing.