Parking fee changes approved
Public comment was in short supply at the public hearing held during the Wednesday (June 26) meeting of the Cold Spring Village Board on changes to parking regulations. Only two retailers provided feedback.
After the hearing, the board approved changes to the Village Code to formalize revisions approved on June 12. The changes immediately reduced the fee for metered parking on Main Street, which is in effect from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from $4 per hour to $2 per hour. In addition, the board increased the maximum time allowed for metered parking from three to four hours and reduced the minimum from an hour to 30 minutes.
During public comment, Doug Price, owner of Doug’s Pretty Good Pub, asked for the reasoning behind the four-hour limit. “Why not five hours” or longer, he asked, noting that many visitors want to spend the day. “Most people who park on Main Street are not hikers, shoppers or employees.”
Mayor Kathleen Foley said the rationale behind time limits came from the Parking Committee, which was established to make recommendations. She said the board shared the committee’s view that turnover is important.
Craig Muraszewski, owner of The General Store, also advocated an increase in time limits. “What we’re consistently hearing from people is that the four-hour limit is not enough,” he said.
Muraszewski said that, as a merchant, he must spend time “handholding” customers, explaining where they can park for free after their paid time expires.
Foley said the village is building a website that will include detailed information about parking throughout Cold Spring. “We’re going to get through this season at four hours,” she said.
The board also approved a small no-parking zone on Kemble Avenue between Wall Street and The Boulevard to improve sightlines during pickup and drop-off at the Foundry Montessori School in the former VFW hall.
In other business …
- The village office will close at 3 p.m. on Fridays from July 5 through Labor Day.
- The board approved a Seastreak proposal to dock at Cold Spring on two Saturdays, July 13 and Aug. 10. After visiting the village, the cruises will continue up the Hudson River to Milton for wine tastings.
- The mayor was authorized to sign permit applications to the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for repairs to the break wall at the Cold Spring Boat Club. The club, which leases the site from the village, is responsible for maintaining the wall.
