{news} Shapiro backs beach parking fees

[David Bedell]

The Advocate

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-shapiro5asep29,0,4173800.story

Green Party hopeful backs beach parking fees

By Doug Dalena
Staff Writer

September 29, 2005

STAMFORD -- Green Party mayoral candidate Darek Shapiro has endorsed a daily 
charge for drivers without seasonal beach stickers, but said beaches should 
remain open to pedestrians and bicyclists.

"The other parks are free, and I think the parks should remain free," he 
said earlier this week in the most detailed beach access proposal put 
forward by any of the three mayoral candidates. "The people themselves 
aren't the problem. It's the cars, and the reaction to the cars."

The city's beach-access policy has attracted the ire of residents, who 
complain that drivers, especially those from out of town, drop off 
passengers, then park on residential streets to avoid paying for seasonal 
beach parking passes.

Shapiro, a North Stamford architect, said only residents with permits should 
be allowed to park on residential streets near the two main beaches at Cove 
Island and Cummings parks.

The city should open beach parking lots to daily visitors and set up meters 
or kiosks for those without passes, Shapiro said. Through-streets, such as 
Cove Road, Seaside Avenue and Weed Avenue, also could have parking meters, 
he said.

"As long as they're not blocking residents and not interfering with traffic, 
I think it would be a way of raising revenue for the city," Shapiro said.

The day passes should cost at least $5 to encourage purchase of season 
permits, Shapiro said.

A season permit for beach parking costs residents $20 and nonresidents $225. 
Daily permits are available, but only in advance, at the government center 
on weekdays. People who enter on foot or bicycle pay nothing.

All the mayoral candidates have said the city must simplify the way day 
visitors get parking passes and alleviate the traffic problems.

Mayor Dannel Malloy, running for his fourth term, has directed his staff to 
come up with a proposal to charge those without a permit for daily parking, 
and perhaps charge people who arrive on foot or bicycle.

Officials recommended three alternatives last night in a report to the Parks 
and Recreation Commission. A legal opinion included in the report 
discouraged charging pedestrians and bicyclists. Malloy has not said which 
of the three alternatives he prefers.

Republican mayoral candidate Christopher Munger, a retired FBI agent seeking 
his first political office, also has advocated charging for daily entrance. 
He said he will study whether to charge beachgoers without cars.

"I see the main issue is that the residents in the Cove are put at a 
disadvantage in getting into their own parking spaces," Shapiro said.

If the city can create a policy that gets the cars off the road, residents 
will be happy, he said.

Shapiro, whose campaign includes ideas for increased energy conservation and 
expanded mass transit, also suggested a "beach bus" service from downtown 
and installing more bicycle racks at the beaches.

Copyright © 2005, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.