Politics & Government
Hearing Set To Address Residential Parking Woes Near NUMC
New law allows Town of Hempstead to create a residents-only parking permit system on designated streets surrounding East Meadow medical center.
A public hearing has been set for Sept. 3 to discuss a proposed Town of Hempstead local law that would allow a residents-only permit parking system near Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Kemp Hannon and Assemblyman Tom McKevitt and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo July 31, will let the Town govern the "times of day when the permit will apply and provisions to protect some short-term parking."
According to a resolution passed Tuesday calling the hearing, "The Town board finds that chronic monopolization of on-street parking spaces in certain residential areas adjacent to Nassau University Medical Center by its employees and visitors has caused a distinct lack of on-street parking for residents of that area, adjacent to their homes."
The board believes the limited resident-only permitting system will "fairly address the residents' concerns and protect the needs of the greater vicinity."
Residents who live in the area say the parking issues started in June 2011, when the medical center's parking garage was razed because it was "structurally unsound." As a result, many visitors to and employees of NUMC began parking on the residential streets around the hospital.
The area has been plagued by congestion ever since. John Nikiel said guests visiting his Roosevelt Avenue home have had to park down the block because of lack of parking in front of his home. "There is absolutely no parking on my street," he said.
Shelley Lotenberg, the director of public affairs at Nassau University Medical Center, told Patch Thursday that the medical center is creating a new two-level parking area in the same location as the "garage being demolished that will be able to house all staff, families, patients and visitors without the need to use neighborhood parking."
If the Town's law is enacted, all "eligible" residents shall be issued a $3 permit, which would allow for residents-only parking on designated roadways between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Times of day and days could be adjusted for individual streets via town board resolution, as recommended by the director of traffic control.
The parking permit system would be implemented on the following roadways in East Meadow:
- Roosevelt Avenue, west of Prospect Avenue
- Jefferson Street, west of Prospect Avenue
- First Street, west of Prospect Avenue
- Second Street, west of Prospect Avenue
- Third Street, west of Prospect Avenue
- Fourth Street, west of Prospect Avenue
- Clearmeadow Drive
- Nottingham Road
- Florence Court
- Jane Court
- Dofena Lane
- Franklin Avenue, north of 4th Street
- Bailey Avenue
- Franklin Avenue, north of 7th Street and south of Hempstead Turnpike
- Lincoln Avenue, north of 7th Street and south of Roosevelt Avenue
- 5th Street, west of Prospect Avenue
- Sixth Street, west of Prospect Avenue
- 7th Street, west of Prospect Avenue
- Pengon Circle
- Lois Court
- Erma Drive
- Ava Drive
- Dorothy Drive
- Barbara Drive
- Rose Drive
- Bly Road
- Marion Drive
- Conti Square Boulevard
Parking without a permit in the designated area for more than two hours will result in a fine not more than $100 for the first violation; a second violation within 18 months will result in a fine not more than $200; a third and any subsequent violations within 18 months will result in a fine not more than $300.
The hearing will be held at Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street in Hempstead at 10:30 a.m. to consider enactment of this local law.
Do you think a residents-only permit parking system will help alleviate traffic woes in the area? Let us know in the comments section below.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
