News

Nov 25, 2023

Paid Parking Meters Coming To Farmingdale Village

FARMINGDALE, NY — Parking meters are likely coming to Farmingdale Village.

FARMINGDALE, NY — Parking meters are likely coming to Farmingdale Village.

Village residents will be exempt from paying for parking, though visitors should expect meters by early August. Meters have been installed at the LIRR lots and neighboring streets.

No official price of parking has been established yet.

The need for meters is because of the growth and popularity of the downtown, which has led to the costs of managing and maintaining it increasing "considerably," Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said.

"Millions of dollars of infrastructure improvements are needed and ongoing, while grants are used to support improvements and project funding; costs are also paid by village residents," Ekstrand told Patch.

An app, PayByPhone Parking, will eliminate the need for people to walk to a meter. Many other municipalities on Long Island and across the country use the app.

"The same thing has been happening in villages and densely populated areas everywhere for decades," Ekstrand said.

Fees, days, times, and more details will be announced once finalized by the village.

The village is listening to comments from business owners and other people who do not live within the village boundaries, said Walter Priestley, a Farmingdale Village trustee.

The board discussed the possibility of enforcing the meters mostly in the evenings as opposed to during the day. The idea of free parking spots for 15-to-20 minutes, like the spaces near Starbucks, has also been discussed, according to Priestley.

The village is considering a onetime fee for a limited number of two-year stickers that people can buy; the stickers would not be on the village tax roll.

"We have to work things out and consider the pros and cons," Priestley said. "Probably the first few months, we will see how it goes and then modify it if necessary. My biggest concern are the seniors and the ability for them to navigate our downtown. My second concern is for the businesses that have consumers that just need to get in and out quickly."

Farmingdale Village, Ekstrand said, spent $8 million on parking lot improvements, including signage, drainage, irrigation, plantings, beautification and lighting. The land across from 7-Eleven was also purchased for a new parking lot, while a pass was created to open space between Whiskey Down Diner and Mike's Barber Shop.

Additional parking spots were created at the LIRR crossing by Clinton Street, while 5 Corners Park was upgraded.

Farmingdale hosts several major events each year, like the Columbus Day Weekend Fair, Spring Fair, Music on Main Events, five parades, the school district's hosting of the Special Olympics, Art in the Park, movie nights, Pops concerts, NYE Ball Drop and others. A car show, scheduled for May 13, was added this year.

The events require planning, promotion, insurance, security, set-up and break-down labor, and temporary signage.

"If you like these events and you like safe, clean, well lit, dry parking lots and streets with beautification, I think you will understand it costs money," Priestley said. "The same thing has been happening in villages and popular destination locations everywhere for decades."

More events and activity increases liability costs, as more people lead to more trips, falls and rescue calls, according to Priestley.

"Until now, village residents and village businesses have paid for most of this expense through their property taxes," Priestley said. "This is unsustainable and we are asking that the non-residents understand that we have to share the cost with the other people who also enjoy Farmingdale's downtown."

The village is currently burying its electrical wires, adding new lighting to both sides of the street, and widening Main Street downtown.

The village hired private security to patrol parking lots late at night because of the increased activity, Ekstrand said.

"In the interest of public safety and as a deterrence to vandalism, we are looking into security cameras in the downtown," the mayor said. "Also because of the increased activity, we have more labor costs and are cleaning up the parking lots every morning in the downtown."

The village purchased a new street sweeper and snow removal equipment to keep the streets and lots clean. A Department of Public Works building is being built, as well.

"We look forward to keeping the downtown safe, well maintained, with improvements, and also look forward to enjoying the warmer weather, parks, the upcoming Special Olympics Spring Games and more!" Ekstrand said.

Farmingdale Village won Best Downtown on Long Island in the Bethpage Best of LI Awards eight times: 2015 - 2018 and 2020-2023.

"I hope you can be patient and understand that in order to maintain a vibrant, safe, clean downtown that village residents and non-village residents can enjoy it cost a few dollars," Priestley said. "If everyone pays a little, we will continue to the have the best and most fun downtown on Long Island."