Press Release: Dobbs Ferry Able To Create Parking Permit System

Yonkers, NY - Dobbs Ferry is one step closer to creating a permit parking system in the village following passage of a bill introduced by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate Democratic Leader, and Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti.  The village requested the ability to do so in order to provide parking relief for Dobbs Ferry residents who live near the train station and have difficulty parking on the street near their homes. The legislation requires the Governor’s signature to become law, and will take effect 60 days after it is signed.

“Dobbs Ferry is looking to protect the village’s integrity as a place to live and do business, by making sure that commuters who may not live in the village, are not taking up precious street parking on residential streets,” said Senator Stewart-Cousins. 

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti said, “Not only does this legislation help Dobbs Ferry residents find parking, it will help make the village an even more attractive place for businesses to set up shop. This is about decreasing congestion, reducing pollution and increasing the quality of life for residents of Dobbs Ferry.”

Dobbs Ferry Police Chief and Acting Village Administrator Betsy Gelardi said, "The Village of Dobbs Ferry and our residents living in the immediate area of the M.T.A. train station are thankful to Senator Stewart-Cousins and Assemblyman Abinanti for sponsoring the Home Rule for Residential Parking. We are hopeful that Governor Cuomo will sign the bill into law so that we can move forward with implementation of residential parking, which will significantly increase the quality of life for the residents of Dobbs Ferry living in this area.

Dobbs Ferry can establish the parking permit pilot program by local law or ordinance. The specific requirements include: allowing at least 20% of the spaces within the permit area to be open to nonresidents, providing for short-term parking of at least 60 minutes in the permit area, and requiring a public hearing to be held on the parking permit system. The pilot program would expire on January 1, 2018. 

The bill states the area of the village to be covered: Oak street, from Broadway to Main street; Elm street, from Broadway to Main street; Chestnut street, from Broadway to Main street; Walnut street, from Broadway to Livingston avenue; Hatch terrace, from Broadway to Walnut street; Palisade street, from Cedar street to Chestnut street; Riverside place; Cedar street, from Main street to a point 750 feet west of Palisade street; and the portion of Draper lane owned by the village of Dobbs Ferry.

There are exceptions. No permit shall be required on those portions of streets where the adjacent properties are zoned for commercial, office and/or retail use. The parking system does not apply to any state highway maintained by the state.