Public parking on Library Lane will no longer be permitted on weekdays after Rye’s City Council unanimously approved an amendment Wednesday, eliminating the 15-minute parking zone on the road leading to City Hall and the Rye Free Reading Room.
The change removes the short-term parking option created in May 2023 to give visitors quick access to City Hall and the library. Under the amendment, parking, standing, and stopping will be prohibited along the curb between the driveway entrances to 1037 Boston Post Road, except for vehicles displaying city employee parking permits.
No residents spoke during the public hearing at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, though Mayor Josh Nathan said one written comment expressed concern about the change.
City Manager Brian Shea said enforcement will apply Monday through Friday, and signage will make that clear.
“The staff parking is typically opened on weekends,” he said. “There’s no enforcement that occurs, so it’s not really an issue on weekends.”
Kristen Wilson, Rye’s city attorney, explained the rationale for the removal of free public parking at the council’s previous meeting, noting that parking is at a premium in Rye, especially around the central business district. Library Lane is frequently used by visitors of City Hall, YMCA Studios, and the Rye Free Reading Room, which limited the parking spots available for city employees.
