At Thursday’s Board of Selectmen meeting Greenwich Police Deputy Chief Jim Bonney, who leads Parking Services Dept, made several parking-related proposals.
Greenwich regulates local traffic through its Code of Ordinances and the Selectmen act as the official local traffic authority.
Bonney said Greenwich Plaza lot has the longest wait list and the most expensive permits.
He said Greenwich Plaza permit holders often lose their permits or have them stolen.
“I always have to review a claim, and they’re supposed to report it to the police department as theft,” he added.
The suggested edit would give the Director of Parking Services some discretion when people claim their permit is stolen.
The proposed an amendment to the Traffic Ordinance would read: “If a permit is stolen, the permit holder is required to submit an official police report, indicating the theft. Upon submission of the police report, and the approval of the Director of Parking Services*, the cost to replace the stolen permit will be reduced to the administrative fee only.”
*Bold/italics proposed to be added
“They’re supposed to report it to the police department if it’s a theft, not a loss. If it’s a loss you have to pay (to replace) it. If it’s a theft, we replace it with a $10 fee.”
“I always find it strange that the most expensive permit, which is the Plaza lot is the only one people ever lose,” Bonney said. “You can’t just give it to your wife or family member and get another one.”
Greenwich Plaza features a multi-level covered parking facility at the Greenwich train station, offering commuter and tenant spaces. Indoor garage Level A commuter permits are available through the town, alongside designated visitor and tenant garage levels (Levels B and C) managed by the Ashforth Company.
The Selectmen waived a second read and voted unanimously to approve the motion.
Amendment to article 2, Sec. 14-3 to add a Definition of a ‘Moved Vehicle.’
Bonney presented a new definition of what it means to move a car:
“A vehicle shall be deemed to have moved only if it has vacated the entire original parking space or entire original regulated parking area and remained absent for a minimum period of two (2) hours before returning.”
“You can’t just shift your car 9 inches every day,” Bonney said. “You have to actually move your car every 24 hours.”
“Some cars don’t even run, and they just push them a couple feet,” Bonney added.
The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve.
Revise Sec. 14-38.2. – Small Vehicle Parking
Bonney proposed to revise the definition of Small Car Parking where posted or marked.
A small vehicle shall mean a passenger motor vehicle having an overall length not exceeding eighteen 18 feet and an overall width not exceeding 72 inches, excluding mirrors.
No vehicle exceeding these dimensions shall park in any space designated for small vehicle parking.
Any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be subject to a parking citation and any other enforcement measures authorized by this Code.
Bonney said SUV’s or vehicles like an Escalade or a Suburban are not small cars.
He explained that CT has an abandoned vehicle law and the town follows the state on abandoned vehicles.
“The town or the state has the right to tow it off the street,” he said. “We’ve had people pushing disabled cars up and down the block.”
The Selectmen did not vote. Selectwoman Rabin asked for a second read.
A proposed amendment to “SCHEDULE I – Parking Prohibited” was in response to a resident on View Street West in Byram with concerns for visibility and maneuverability.
Parking Services agreed with the resident, having measured the roadway and studied the on-street parking conditions.
Bonney said staff recommended establishing a ‘No Parking’ zone within approximately 25 feet of the stop bar at the intersection, and for approximately the next 100 feet beyond the intersection, restrict parking to one side of the street.
The proposal will require a second read.
Sketch from Michael Kiselak, Greenwich DPW.
Next was a proposal to eliminate the One-Hour parking in a narrow shoulder in Cos Cob where parked cars encroach into the adjacent travel lane.
The one hour parking along E Putnam Ave extends past the row of stores, and narrows so cars park hanging into the active lane of traffic. Aug 14, 2026 Photo: Leslie Yager
There is currently no ordinance specifically regulating parking along this section of roadway in Cos Cob. Aug 14, 2026 Photo: Leslie Yager
Cars parked in the narrow shoulder hang into an active lane of traffic.
Bonney said the one-hour parking area along East Putnam Ave (on the same side as Cos Cob School and the rock outcropping) is too narrow to park.
The white line (described in the paperwork as a fog line) narrows, yet people park in it and hang out into the active lane of traffic.
In 2025 alone there were 9 car crashes involving this narrow paved shoulder.
“People squeeze their cars in there in areas that are not wide enough and cause drivers in the northern most lane to wander into the lane next to them,” he said.
He said there are legitimate one-hour parking spaces in front of the row of stores that include Arcuri’s, Gelato & Cioccolato, Randy’s Wines and Roost.
“This is in the one hour zone and it really shouldn’t be in there,” Bonney said. “We’re going to get some road markings and put some signs up….We’ll mark it before we start enforcing it.”
Although parking has historically been permitted in this location, there is currently no ordinance specifically regulating parking along this section of roadway. Aug 14, 2026 Photo: Leslie Yager
Next request was to memorialize in the town ordinance all the new handicapped parking spaces on Greenwich Avenue, which were moved around and increased during recent improvements.
An ADA parking spot by Mediterraneo was displaced and a new one put in across the street at the corner of Fawcett in 2024. Photo: Leslie Yager
The amendment would update all the designated locations of handicapped parking spaces on Greenwich Avenue.
The Selectmen voted to approve the request.
ADD:
Greenwich Avenue
East side, south of Bruce Place, 1 space.
East side, vicinity of house No. 271, 1 space as posted and marked.
East side, immediately north of Amogerone Crossway, first space as posted and marked.
East side, approximately 210 feet south of Amogerone Crossway, 1 space as posted and marked.
East side, immediately north of East Elm Street, first space as posted and marked.
East side, immediately south of East Elm Street, first space as posted and marked.
East side, immediately north of Fawcett Place, first space as posted and marked.
East side, approximately 165 feet north of Bruce Park Avenue, 1 space as posted and marked.
West side, vicinity of building No. 200, 2 spaces as posted and marked.
West side, immediately south of Benedict Place, first space as posted and marked.
West side, immediately south of Arch Street, first space as posted and marked.
West side, immediately south of Grigg Street, first space as posted and marked.
West side, approximately 130 feet north of Railroad Avenue, 1 space as posted and marked.
DELETE:
Greenwich Avenue
East side, south of Bruce Place, 1 space.
East side, vicinity of house No. 271, 1 space as posted and marked.
East side, immediately north of Amogerone Crossway, first space as posted and marked.
East side, approximately 210 feet south of Amogerone Crossway, 1 space as posted and marked.
East side, immediately north of East Elm Street, first space as posted and marked.
East side, immediately south of East Elm Street, first space as posted and marked.
East side, immediately north of Fawcett Place, first space as posted and marked.
East side, approximately 165 feet north of Bruce Park Avenue, 1 space as posted and marked.
West side, vicinity of building No. 200, 2 spaces as posted and marked.
West side, immediately south of Benedict Place, first space as posted and marked.
West side, immediately south of Arch Street, first space as posted and marked.
West side, immediately south of Grigg Street, first space as posted and marked.
West side, approximately 130 feet north of Railroad Avenue, 1 space as posted and marked.
The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve.
Another amendment to the traffic ordinance was to update “Schedule IB – Parking, Stopping or Standing Prohibited” to add specified portions of Field Point Road and Shore Road, in the area of Belle Haven.
He proposed no parking or standing any time along the entire length of Shore Road as well as Field Point Rd between Field Point Circle and Intervale Road where landscaper trucks line up and idle in the morning, causing a traffic safety hazard.
These approaches all have double yellow centerlines, and none of the approaches are wide enough to support a parking lane in addition to vehicle travel.
Add to no parking/standing:
Field Point Road: Both sides, from Field Point Circle to Intervale Road.
Shore Road (Greenwich): Both sides, from Field Point Road to Intervale Road.
Fee Increases for Annual Parking Permits.
Parking Services recommends increasing annual parking permit fees, effective with the 2027 annual parking permits.
The proposal reflects an average annual increase of approximately 2% over five years, resulting in an overall increase of about 10%.
The last time annual parking permits fees increased, the increases averaged 10%. That was approved in 2019, becoming effective with the 2020 permits.
Greenwich Parking Services surveyed parking permit fees in CT towns including Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, and Westport. In New York they surveyed Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Mount Vernon, Pelham, Port Chester, New Rochelle, and Rye.
Regional parking permit fee trends generally align with increases in Metro-North Railroad fares. Metro-North implemented a 5% fare increase in September 2025, followed by an additional 5% increase in June 2026, for a cumulative increase of 10%.
The increase is in consideration of the increasing costs associated with operating and maintaining the Dept of Parking Services – including capital improvement projects, the Greenwich Avenue meter replacement project, snow removal, and repairs to the Greenwich Plaza Parking Lot.
Bonney said expensive upcoming projects include repairs to the Town Hall parking garage and repaving the Greenwich Plaza lot, which has to be done by hand.
The Annual Permit fee for the lots identified below is $25 $30.00:
“B” Byram Parking Lot (William Street)
8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. permit required.
“B” Byram Parking Lot (Henry Street)
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. permit required.
The Annual Permit fee for the lots identified below is $165 $185.00:
“WE” West End Avenue Parking Lot
The Annual Permit fee for the lots identified below is $456 $495.00:
“CC” Cos Cob Railroad Parking Lots (Loughlin Avenue)
“G” Horseneck Lane Parking Lot, Island Beach Parking Lot*
“GM” Horseneck Lane Parking Lot, Island Beach Parking Lot*
“OG” Old Greenwich Railroad Parking Lot (Iron Horse Lane)
“R” Riverside Railroad Parking Lot (Carrona Drive)
“T” Town Hall Garage, Middle Level-2
The Annual Permit fee for the lots identified below is $720 $795.00:
“P” Greenwich Plaza Parking Lot, Level A
“SV” Soundview Parking Lot
“L” Lafayette Place Parking Lot
“CG” Central Greenwich Resident Parking Permit
“CG” Central Greenwich Merchant Parking Permit
The proposed fee increases was a first read, and will require a second read before a vote.