Resident Parking Permits Approved; Water Rates Increased; Free Holiday Parking

Resident Evening and Weekend Parking Permits 

The White Plains Common Council approved Mayor Tom Roach’s proposal for evening and weekend parking permits at Monday’s council meeting.

The annual permits will only be offered to residents for $75. The permit will allow residents to park in designated garages Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 12 p.m., as well as 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Designated garages include: Chester-Maple; Hamilton-Main; Lexington-Grove East; Lexington-Grove West; Longview-Cromwell; Trans Center and the White Plains Library.

Permit holders will park in spots marked “permit only spaces,” except in the White Plains Library Garage. The permit will be good for one car only.  Permits will be available for 2012, however those who purchase them now will be able to use them from now through 2012. Click here for more information.

In a letter to the council, Roach said the permits will “encourage residents to patronize the businesses, restaurants and theaters in our downtown, and will have a positive impact on our local economy…It will also assist the City in managing parking demand by further encouraging the use of garages that have ample permit parking available at these times, helping alleviate congestion in higher demand parking facilities.”

The council also named Acting Commissioner of Parking John Larson as Commissioner of Parking.

Metropolitan Plaza Changes Site Plan

The council approved changes to the site plan for the Metropolitan Plaza project at 250 Main St. Changes include re-locating the connected elevated pedestrian walkway to the fourth instead of third floor; re-locating an escalator and installation of an additional escalator to connect the second floor of the project to the fourth floor; as well as the widening of the ground floor arcade.

Free Holiday Parking

Parking will be free on all downtown on-street parking meters from Monday, Dec. 19 to Saturday, Dec. 24. Every meter covered with a red holiday bag will offer two hours of free parking. 

Increase Water Rates Approved

The average White Plains family will see its water bill rise by about $23 with the council’s approval of increased water rates. Click for a story on the water rates.

City to Install LED Street, Sidewalk and Park Lights

White Plains will switch out its existing pressure sodium street, sidewalk and park lights to LED lights over the next five to six years using existing light funding. The LED’s use 30 percent less electricity, give off more white light and have reduced in price over the last three years. The lights will only be replaced once in 10 to 15 years, unlike the previous lights which had to be changed about three times within that span.

Shell Hydrogen Funding Runs Out

The hydrogen fueling station at 140 S Kensico Ave. will be “mothballed” and preserved by White Plains since Shell Hydrogen, LLC’s 5-year project has come to an end. Shell built the hydrogen station at no cost to the City, which in-turn operated hydrogen vehicles and provided technical reports to New York State agencies. The City is keeping the equipment at no charge since it is valuable and safely stored. If new funding were to pop-up the council could considering re-opening the station.

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