Later this month, community members parking on Library Lane may get booked.
A proposed amendment to a local law would eliminate the 15-minute free parking on Library Lane, the road leading to City Hall and the Rye Free Reading Room, to free up more parking spaces for city employees.
Rye’s City Council set a public hearing to discuss the matter at its next meeting on June 10.
“Parking is at a premium due to individuals going to the Rye Free Reading Room, City Hall, and even the YMCA Studios,” said Kristen Wilson, Rye’s city attorney. “As such, employees need a few more parking spaces. So, the proposed public hearing is for the parallel parking along the curb of Library Lane to be only for employee parking. Right now, it’s 15-minute parking, but employees need a few more spaces.”
If the amendment is approved, any parking, standing, or stopping of vehicles would be prohibited for the entire length of Library Lane along the curb between the driveway entrances to 1037 Boston Post Road. The change would not apply to vehicles with employee parking permits.
The 15-minute parking limit was implemented in May 2023, allowing “visitors to have quick and convenient access to City Hall and the Library.” At that time, a one-hour parking limit was also implemented on the lot behind City Hall.
“This change is being implemented to ensure that there is ample parking space available for all visitors to City Hall and the Library,” says a post on the City of Rye website from April 27, 2023.
Three years later, the 15-minute window appears on the verge of being eliminated entirely, as parking throughout the city, especially in the Central Business District, remains at a premium.
