Parking commission keeps permit fees, approves late-fee policy and orders data review

The New Canaan Parking Commission voted Thursday to maintain existing business and commuter permit fees for the upcoming permit year and to continue a $50 late-fee policy for commuter permit renewals filed late in September.

Parking staff presented permit inventories and wait lists across town lots, describing significant oversubscription at the lumberyard lot and available capacity at others. Staff said the lumberyard lot currently has more permits issued than spaces and a waiting list; they told the commission they expect attrition over the summer and will continue to manage allocations. Commissioners approved keeping the current fee structure and the existing late-fee enforcement rhythm.

Commission staff reported that parking data currently come from multiple sources — several mobile-app providers, kiosks and the enforcement system — and said they are working to normalize the feeds. "It's come from multiple sources... it's actually nine different sources of it," a staff member said, explaining why historical comparisons require careful cleaning and standardization. Commissioners agreed to assign interns to gather kiosk and meter data, act as kiosk ambassadors, and compile year-over-year metrics (daily counts, appeals, meter-vs-app usage) to support evidence-based adjustments.

The panel also discussed operational changes completed or underway: the playhouse-ramp reopening and a new delivery/loading zone intended to remove trucks from Elm Street, updated temporary signage and repainting of lots, and a request that the utility company relocate a pole currently occupying parking space(s). Staff said enforcement officers would emphasize 15-minute spaces and begin directing trucks to the ramp's loading zone next week when rails are completed.

Commissioners and the Chamber of Commerce suggested forming a joint task force (commission, merchants, council members) to monitor progress ahead of the one-year benchmark for the parking plan and to present recommendations if adjustments are warranted. The commission asked staff to create an online appeals form to streamline submissions and reduce paper trails and to report back with cleaned data and recommended changes.

Several dollar figures and fee amounts in the meeting transcript were inconsistently transcribed; the commission’s official fee schedule should be consulted for precise amounts. Staff committed to providing verified permit-fee figures and cleaned usage data in the coming months.