Amaris Elliott-Engel / The Citizen.

Story:

SKANEATELES -- On a fine summer day, convenient parking in the lakeside village of Skaneateles is close to impossible.

To the chagrin of village merchants, current parking rules have allowed "too many people to hog (spots) all day" and the prevention of a decent turnover of spots for the use of customers, said Alan Dolmatch, a Village Trustee who recently oversaw the completion of a two-year overview of the village's parking situation.

The result of the work of the parking committee Dolmatch chaired will be voted upon by the five-member Skaneateles Village Board Monday night.

The parking committee examined ways to expand the village's parking options, particularly to meet the needs of its business community. It examined the village's on-street parking, alternative, farther-out parking for those willing to walk 10 minutes and the layout of the central municipal parking lot that runs behind Jordan Street and that can be entered through drives from Genesee Street, Jordan Street or State Street.

The on-street phase of the committee's work has been implemented. New meters have been installed that now charge 25 cents for each half-hour of use; meters are also now required on Sundays between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. The village's parking revenues are already up because of the increase in meter rates and the installation of new and reliable meters.

Renovations and changes in the central municipal parking lot are the next step.

Village officials hope to see the work completed by Memorial Day weekend.

For more on this story, read Monday's edition of The Citizen