Fee Increases Proposed For Greenwich Annual Parking Permits: Here's Why

GREENWICH, CT — The Town of Greenwich Department of Parking Services is proposing to increase the annual parking permit fees for the first time in several years to help pay for expensive maintenance projects that are coming down the line.

If approved, the revised fees would apply to 2026 annual parking permit renewals and all permits issued from the waiting lists for the 2027 permit year.

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Greenwich Deputy Police Chief James Bonney, who leads parking services and is planning to retire soon, appeared before the Board of Selectmen on Thursday with the proposed increases. He stressed the increases are only for permit parkers and not street parking, meters, or kiosks.

Under the proposal, the annual permit fee for West End Avenue would rise from $165 to $185; permits for the Cos Cob and Old Greenwich railroad lots, Riverside Railroad lot, Horseneck Lane, Island Beach and the middle level of the Town Hall garage would increase from $456 to $495; and permits for Greenwich Plaza, Soundview, Lafayette Place and Central Greenwich resident and merchant parking would rise from $720 to $795. Byram annual permits would increase from $25 to $30.

"Since we haven't done this in five years, we felt it was the time to do it," Bonney said. He explained parking staff settled on a 10 percent increase, representing 2 percent for each of the five years prices remained unchanged.

Submitted documents say the recommended increase is consistent with historical Town of Greenwich parking permit adjustments, recent Metro-North fare increases, and long-term cost-of-living trends.

Bonney said the Board of Estimate and Taxation has been adamant over the years about making sure town rates are current and up to date with the current environment.

"There are some big projects coming up, and we want to keep up with inflation. The cost of concrete and asphalt and everything else is through the roof," he added.

Notably, parking services is planning to repave the Greenwich Plaza lot, which has to be done by hand due to its elevation, Bonney said.

"It's going to cost probably close to $1 million to pave one parking lot," he said.

The Town Hall garage is also in line for repair work, as it continues to shed cement.

"Engineers and parking [staff] have been having meetings, and we have to make a decision on what to do," Bonney said. "There's a scheduled repair of about $600,000 we have in the capital budget."

According to documents submitted to the board, the fee changes are projected to generate an additional $220,950 in revenue in 2027.

Bonney said staff looked at neighboring towns in Fairfield County, as well as in Westchester County to see what their parking permit rates are.

"We're way cheaper than all of Westchester County. Most towns don't have as much parking as we do... We're in the middle," Bonney said of the rates. "If you leave Darien out of it, we're pretty average. Darien is really low."

First Selectman Fred Camillo reiterated a need to keep fees accessible for residents.

"Like we do with Parks and Recreation, we always want to make sure we're never the most expensive. We never want to be near the most expensive," Camillo said. "That's a good thing to keep in mind when we make these proposals."

The Board of Selectmen is expected to discuss and possibly vote on the proposal at its next meeting on Aug. 27.