The push for Queens residents to get resident-based parking around their neighborhoods has begun.
The City Council voted 40-8 on Nov. 3 in favor of a home rule request to allow residential parking permits in certain neighborhoods, with many of Queens’s councilmen supporting the request.
In essence, the council has now made a formal request to the state legislature to approve legislation allowing the council to establish a residential parking permit program in the city.
If approved, the state legislation would give the council authority to initiate a residential parking permit program on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis, while determining the cost of any proposed permit systems.
Revenue generated from the sale of parking permits would benefit the city’s subway and bus system.
City Councilman Eric Ulrich, (R-Ozone Park) who voted ‘yes’ on the request, said Tuesday that his decision was based on his observance of the daily parking problems that face residents in his district in areas including Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill and the Rockaways.
“Giving homeowners and residents the ability to park on their own block is not too much to ask for,” said Ulrich in a statement. This bill gives the city the ability to implement parking permit programs in neighborhoods where residents say it’s needed.”
Ulrich—the sole Republican councilmember to vote in favor of residential parking permits—added that he believes that some areas in his district might benefit from the possible implementation of residential parking permits, including the blocks in Howard Beach adjacent to the Air Train station in Coleman Square.
“We should do everything we can to end the frustrating ritual of circling the block countless times each evening in search of parking,” he said.
Ulrich was not the only one who voiced his support for residential parking. City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who voted in favor of the request, said there were a ‘significant number’ of neighborhoods flooded with cars from visitors who park and leave their cars near sidewalks.
As a result, he added, the lack of parking prevents residents from parking near their homes and deters patrons from frequenting local businesses.
By Jean-Paul Salamanca
