Greenwich's Board of Selectmen banned parking on stretches of three streets Friday, Sept. 4, while deferring a contested proposal to remove spaces near Cos Cob School.

The same session brought a separate milestone: the Danish American Club donated $70,000 to the Greenwich Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the largest single gift the fund has received since its creation in 2021.

New no-parking zones

Deputy Police Chief Jim Bonney, who oversees Parking Services, proposed the restrictions. The board approved no-parking and no-standing rules on portions of Field Point Road and Shore Road in the Belle Haven area, where landscaper trucks have been arriving early and idling in the roadway, according to meeting coverage from the Greenwich Sentinel.

In Byram, the board unanimously approved a no-parking zone within 25 feet of the stop bar at View Street West and High Street, plus the elimination of parking on roughly 125 feet on one side of View Street West. Gabriella Circosta-Cohee, deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Works, said the change followed an engineering study. State statute requires at least 26 feet of road width for parking on both sides, Greenwich Free Press reported.

The selectmen also approved the town's first parking permit fee increase in five years. The Greenwich Plaza annual permit rises from $720 to $795. The increases are projected to generate an additional $220,950 in revenue in 2027, according to documents Patch reported in August. Bonney said the Plaza lot needs repaving, and because of its low ceiling, the work must be done by hand at a cost of about $1 million.

Cos Cob School decision deferred

The board did not vote on a separate proposal to remove one-hour parking spaces along East Putnam Avenue near Cos Cob School. Officials are reviewing traffic safety and alternatives with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT).

The proposal stems from safety concerns. "This is definitely a safety issue. We had 9 accidents there last year," Bonney said at the board's Aug. 28 meeting, when the item was first presented.

Local businesses including Arcuri's, Roost and Randy's Wines depend on those spaces for customer parking. Business owner Randy Caravella said not all affected businesses had been consulted and suggested a meeting between business owners, the DOT and Parking Services. No timeline for a decision has been announced.

$70,000 for affordable housing

In other business, the board acknowledged the Danish American Club's $70,000 donation to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The Trust Fund said in a statement that the donation will provide significant resources to advance its work, Greenwich Free Press reported.

The fund has provided loans to two approved developments totaling 55 affordable rental units and has commitments for four more projects expected to add 82 units. The Danish American Club, which traces its roots to 1901 when it acquired land in Byram, is led in part by treasurer Marianne Rasch Tierney.

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 16. Residents can follow the fund's work through the town's website.