Chamber Discusses Parking Plans for Downtown

Parking has been an ongoing issue in Sayville for sometime and business owners are making strides to find a solution. At the Chamber of Commerce meeting, which was held at CU29 on Tuesday, those in attendance discussed the lack of adequate parking space.

Gene Murphy, Commissioner of the Department of Planning, personally walked the town to gather preliminary ideas for enhancing the town.

He offered some short-term goals for renovating the parking lots, which include cleaning the catch basins and adding additional lights and signage.

Councilwoman Trish Bergin stated that new signs will be erected at Sayville Beach in an effort to prevent early ferry traffic from parking there for extended periods of time. While the old sings prohibited parking from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., the new time restriction will be from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m..

Though long-term goals include changing parking regulations and re-striping, studies will need to be conducted to determine the best use of the space and number of employees who need parking.

To free-up short-term spaces near the stores for patrons, Murphy suggested employees use stalls further away, as opposed to occupying the closer spots, or those on Main Street for the duration of the day.  Relocation of many of the dumpsters would also create more spaces for marked stalls. In conjunction with landscaping, this will also help make the rear lots aesthetically pleasing to shoppers.

An outdoor plaza area behind the shops north of Main Street is another idea that was proposed. Introducing one-way streets south of Center Street and in other areas could help traffic flow and create more spots.

According to Murphy, negotiations are currently underway to acquire use of a parcel that accommodates 75 parking stalls as well as another lot that contains spots for 12.

With events like Summerfest fast approaching, Assemblywoman Ginny Fields and fifth precinct officer Joel Reines, expressed their concern about the scenario. The three-day festival from August 6 - 8 has the potential to draw 100,000 people to the town.

Murphy is hopeful that with input from the Chamber, some new revisions and an estimate on when work can be done will be completed by then.

"We are known as one of the friendliest towns," said Chamber President Rich Trpicovsky. "Let's also be one of the most successful."