Residents who live in close proximity to Laffin Lane and Hagan Drive in the Town of Poughkeepsie will see their streets cleared of vehicle congestion during the school day, as the Poughkeepsie Town Board approved a law on May 21 which prohibits parking along those streets between the hours of 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. and won’t apply to summers, weekends or holidays.
The cause of the congestion was mainly identified as Spackenkill High School student parking.
“Getting out of our driveways, there are cars blocking our mailboxes,” said resident William Gleason.
But the law won’t only affect students. Some residents questioned its impact on people who do business in the area.
“How is this going to affect someone who has a meeting during the day?” asked William Harrel, a resident of Laffin Lane, who said his wife has various individuals at her home during the day.
“Sometimes you have work done around your yard or house, and you have contractors parking around your street also, so that would affect them,” he added.
Councilman Todd Tancredi (R-6th Ward) recommended to the board where he felt the parking ban should begin.
“I am thinking about how far up Laffin Lane we go with this parking ban. I’d like to recommend to the board that we go with house No. 39 as you go down Laffin, just as you start to go up the hill around the corner. I don’t think there’s a need to go any further than that,” said Tancredi, who noted that the measure wouldn’t affect Harrel.
Attorney Thomas Mahar Jr. and the Police Department approved stopping the no-parking zone there, Tancredi said.
Some residents who have had a problem with Spackenkill students parking on their property are concerned that the parking ban, which was approved unanimously, will affect emergency service vehicles, tradesman, garbage trucks and other workers who have to park on the streets during the day.
“It’s extremely difficult to get through Laffin Lane onto Spackenkill Road and would be almost impossible for a fire engine, ambulance or larger emergency vehicle to get through there. It’s barely possible with a car,” Harrel said.
“I think you’re going to have a problem with having the garbage guys in there,” said resident John Rautenestrauch.
“I would’ve liked to have seen more cooperation potentially from the school district, principal or superintendent to try to do something about it rather than force the town to take matters into their own hands,” said resident Doreen Tignanelli.
Spackenkill Superintendent Dr. Lois Colletta was out sick and unavailable for comment before press time.
Tancredi said he spoke with Colletta, but received no insight.
“She (Colletta) didn’t offer any solutions. She didn’t feel they could stop the students from parking there if it wasn’t illegal.”
Tancredi told her he’d pursue a parking restriction and she said she thought that was a good idea, he said.
A parent’s perspective
Richard Allen of Laffin Lane, who has a 17-year-old son attending the high school, said a majority of students that age plan to take a test ahead of time in order to be eligible to park in the lot at the school. The test is a prerequisite in order to be able to park on school property. Allen’s complaint is that the test is given only once per year on campus, which Allen believes creates an inequality for other students who are only able to receive their licenses later on during senior year.
“There are parking spots at the high school, available to seniors on a first-come, first-serve basis,” Allen said.
“The school needs to take responsibility for this,” said councilman Michael Cifone (R-4th Ward), regarding the parking laws.
“It’s prohibitive to have students only able to go once a year,” Allen said.
“The first time I drove through there (Laffin) I thought there was something major going on, but then I realized it was just the students,” said councilman Stephan Krakower (R-5th Ward), noting the congestion.