Village parking issue raised once again

Warwick — As if parking wasn’t problem enough in the Village of Warwick. Imagine you pay for a yearly permit to park in the Chase Parking Lot (formerly Bank of New York) on South Street and someone else takes your spot. That is indeed happening. Yes, the Chase lot, which is across from the free municipal lot on South Street, is a permit-only parking lot, except on weekends. There are five spots for which permits have been purchased for the weekends, but they are marked as such and, of course, parking is not allowed in those spots. The village sells parking permits for different times of day. A daily permit allows the owner to park in that spot from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.; a nightly permit allows the owner to park from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m.; the weekend permit allows parking day and night Saturday and Sunday. This lot is primarily used by business owners in the village as well as residents who live nearby. The cost for a daily or nightly permit is $200 per year. The weekend permit costs $50. David Bartnowski, co-owner of The Inkwell, with his wife, Carol, talked to the Village Board about the issues his wife has been having with her spot being taken. “Carol has a physical issue,” said Bartnowski. “Barbara White was gracious enough to swap parking spots and let Carol be closer. Now, many times, other cars are in her spot.” Bartnowski said the signage is not adequate, alerting drivers that the lot is by permit only from Monday to Friday. He also suggested that enforcement be increased. “It used to be that if you didn’t have a permit, you’d get a ticket immediately. Now, you never do,” he said. Well, not never. The Village Clerk’s office confirmed that a car was towed out of the lot recently. But Bartnowski’s point was well taken. Already, new signage has been made instructing drivers of the permit situation and welcoming them to park for free on the weekend days. “We have already gotten the signage and it should be up by now,” said Mayor Michael Newhard on Wednesday. “We encourage everyone to park there on weekends.” There are 75 parking spots in the Chase lot. All but one are taken with daily permits. Nightly there are only six permits issued, but overnight parking is not allowed and will be enforced. Weekend permits number just five, but those spots are marked and will be enforced, Newhard said. The South Street parking lot, as well as the other municipal lots in the Village, allows free three-hour parking. That, according to Bartnowski, is also being abused both by residents and local businesses. Newhard said he has asked police to chalk tires. Better enforcement is happening, even on Main Street. Newhard himself was ticketed last week near his store.