Crowd Turns Out to Talk Sterling Street Parking

Despite the rainy weather, the Third Street Firehouse was packed with residents who flocked to the Greenport village board meeting Tuesday night to speak out on both sides of the issue concerning parking on Sterling Street.

The public hearing was a continuation of a public meeting opened in April; the discussion was also slated for the last work session.

The proposed local law would ban parking on the east side of Sterling Street in Greenport.

James Sanders, a summer boating resident for 13 years, said the parking restriction would have direct affect on his family and crew. He said he originally moved to Greenport due to the lack of regulations and the "friendly" atmosphere.

Art Stroem, who lives on Sterling Street, who has several slips in front of his property, said men such as Sanders use those slips. "I'm against this parking restriction," he said, pointing to the Local Waterfront Revitalization Act, which is meant to create a working waterfront. "A parking restriction here would be in direct conflict with this."

And, he said, the restriction would create a parking overflow and prevent boaters from parking. "It's a public street," he said.

Safety, Stroem said, needs to be paramount, but speeding is the biggest issue on Sterling Street, he added. Even school buses speed; he said. Speed bumps or speed limit signs could help, he said. Stroem said both ends of Sterling Street needs to be addressed.

The restriction, Stroem said, would make it difficult for boaters to bring their gear to the slips.

Mary Moore, a Sterling Street resident, agreed safety is critical. "It's very narrow," she said. She asked that three parking spaces be eliminated to enhance visibility. 

She added that Stroem's customers could use spaces behind his facility. Fire and emergency vehicles, she said, need to be able to access residents in need. 

"It's a simple and very easy problem to solve but I hope you address it," she said.

Sterling Street resident John Mancini asked what the safety issue was. His house burned down in 2004, he said; there were no issues with emergency vehicles reaching his home, he said.

It may be only three spaces, he said, "But they're my spaces. You would be banning parking on my spaces." He said he could understand banning parking on the curve but not the straightaways. Mancini asked what would happen when the Greek festival takes place each year, and those visiting would not be able to park.

"Now we're being told it's of paramount importance, like weapons of mass destruction, that we have to clear those streets," he said.

Mancini asked why regulations were needed and questioned the costs, including attorney fees and signage. "It's a waste of money," he said, adding that enforcement was also an issue.

"I think this all boils down to common sense," Sterling Street resident and zoning board of appeals member Doug Moore said, adding that while the restriction might be an inconvenience, there was plenty of parking on Sterling Avenue. "If someone is so inconvenienced that they can't walk a few hundred feet in the name of safety then maybe they shouldn't be here."

Robert Feger, Greenport representative on the Southold Town transportation commission, said school buses can't make the turn if someone is parked on the curve. He recalled an incident where a school bus was almost unable to turn. Fire trucks and ambulances might also have the same difficulty, he said.

Feger suggested at least two parking spots on the end of Sterling Street should be eliminated to make turns easier.

He said many have discussed concerns over boater convenience.

"Our concern should not be about convenience," he said. "Our concern should be for public safety.

Greenport Village Mayor David Nyce asked the board if they would rather hold the public hearing open  or close it; the board opted to close the public hearing. The next step, Nyce said, is that the board will discuss the issue at the next work session.