Community Says 'No Thanks' To Parking

Cars fill the parking lot at the Cold Spring Harbor train station where neighbors are pushing back against a proposed 150-space parking structure. Long Islander News photo/Connor Beach

By Connor Beach

cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Residents are pushing back against a proposal to build a 150-stall parking structure at the Cold Spring Harbor train station.

Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci announced in October that State Senators John Flanagan (R-East Northport) and Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) had secured over $11 million in state grants to improve parking at both the Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington LIRR train stations.

“The Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington train station parking lots and structures need serious improvements, far exceeding the town’s budget capabilities,” Lupinacci said during the October announcment.

Marcellino, who lost his re-election bid earlier this month to Jim Gaughran, secured $7.35 million from the State and Municipal Facilities Program Grant to cover the cost of the proposed parking garage at the Cold Spring Harbor station.

The town owns and maintains the current approximately 1,000-space lot at the train station, and parked cars are required to display a $75 annual resident commuter parking permit, according to town documents.

Members of the nearby Cold Spring Hills Civic Association expressed worries that adding a parking structure with 150-spots would attract additional commuters to the lot and make the already congested surrounding streets even busier.

Civic association chairwoman Gayle Snyder said the association sent a letter to the town explaining the concerns of neighboring residents.

Lupinaccci said in an interview Wednesday that the money had been allocated to improve parking at the Cold Spring Harbor train station, and the town would work “with the community and the civic association in the area to make sure that we address the parking needs.”

He said, “Before any construction occurs, before any projects are introduced we will be working with the community to make sure we achieve the goals that help out the commuters, but are also acceptable to the surrounding neighbors.”