Annual parking fees for Port Washington commuters are expected to nearly double in the next five years following the passage of a resolution by the Town of North Hempstead’s board affecting the fee schedule for the Port Washington Parking District.
Through the parking district, which encompasses the Port Washington villages and unincorporated areas, plus Plandome Manor and a portion of Flower Hill, residents can request a permit to park in commuter lots. The resolution increases the annual price of a permit by $75 a year over the next five years.
For the year 2021, the price for a yearly permit in the district is set at $400. According to the recently-passed schedule, the permit will then cost $475 in 2022, grow to $550 in 2023, grow to $625 in 2024, and finally to $700 in 2025.
The price for monthly commuter parking permits will also rise from $40 in 2021 to $60 in 2022, but no further figures for the following years were determined.
At their meeting on Dec. 17, Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte, who represents the Port area, brought the resolution to the town council and said at the meeting that she had received a mixed response from area residents and commuters on the proposal, which came after a shortfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So I received several emails and phone calls, some have thanked me for trying to preserve the Port Washington parking district in maintaining the exclusive parking arrangements for Port Washington commuters, and some have been disappointed that this is happening,” Dalimonte said. “This was not an easy decision and one that was not taken lightly. I’ll be watching this budget very closely, and I promise all the commuters in Port Washington that once we have overcome our shortfall that I will stop increasing the annual parking fee.”
With no comments from the public on the matter, save for an email directly to the councilwoman that was not elaborated on due to it not being part of the record, the council then unanimously voted to pass the changes.
“We are all in this together,” Dalimonte said, just before submitting the resolution for a vote. “This is not an easy choice, but it’s necessary.”
