By JEFF MORRIS
Well over half of the Bedford Town Board’s meeting Tuesday was devoted to discussion of parking on a single block in Katonah.
Public Works Commissioner Kevin Winn proposed that the board consider creating a 55-foot no-parking area on both sides of Hillside Avenue at the intersection of Huntville Road. He said residents had requested this change to allow them to more safely enter and exit Hillside Avenue, due to sight distance limitations and narrow road width when exiting Hillside southbound at the intersection.
Winn noted that state law already requires there be no parking within 30 feet of a stop sign. That would account for all but 25 feet of the new no parking zone on the west side of Hillside; on the east side the zone would be entirely new, as there is no stop sign.
The proposal would necessitate an amendment to town code concerning parking and standing restrictions, and so a public hearing was required. Once the hearing was opened, however, most Hillside Avenue residents who spoke did not support the proposal. These residents, who said they had lived in their houses for 46 years, 44 years, over 25 years, and 20 years respectively, denied there had ever been an issue or accident at that location.
The one resident who spoke in favor noted that vehicles, most notably trucks, park right up to the stop sign and block the view. She called it “an accident waiting to happen.”
She said she had three small children who cross Hillside to walk to school, and that if they have to walk around a car or truck to cross the street it is very dangerous.
Other residents countered that the real problem is speeding on Huntville Road, and wished there were more enforcement of traffic laws there. They said generations of children have grown up on Hillside without any incidents. Nonetheless, said Supervisor Ellen Calves, safety concerns are legitimate and need to be addressed.
Several residents objected to the proposed addition of “no parking” signs, calling them unsightly. They also cited the limited number of parking spaces on the street, pointing out the numerous driveways, and expressed fear that imposing parking limitations would have a snowball effect all the way down Hillside.
One resident suggested adding pavement markings rather than signs. Winn said that could be considered, though such markings would need to be refreshed, whereas signs would be more permanent. Calves asked whether trying a sign reinforcing the 30-foot state restriction that already exists might be adequate. Winn replied it could be a reasonable first approach to see whether it was effective, and would not require any change to town code.
“It seems like the least intrusive response would be one sign indicating what area that law applies to, and seeing what the results are,” he said.
Councilwoman Bobbi Bittker said that, having been made aware that the state law is not being followed, “we have an obligation now to make sure at least for that 30-foot section on the side of the stop sign that we do something to try to make sure that it is adhered to. I don’t think we need to go beyond that, at least not at this point.”
A resident wondered whether putting up a sign in support of the 30-foot restriction at this location would require the town to impose restrictions on every other street that has a stop sign.
Winn said the law already exists, and if someone were to call complaining someone is parked illegally, the police would do whatever is appropriate.
“We generally do not post signage unless there is a complaint or concern,” he said, and unless other neighbors on the side roads off of Huntville started complaining, he did not believe it would be “contagious” just because they were doing it on this particular street.
The board closed the public hearing, and Calves proposed that they let people know about the existing law on one side of the street and see if there is an improvement that helps alleviate the concerns. She also asked that the police chief, who was in attendance, increase enforcement on Huntville, especially now that school has started.