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Parking problems at Massapequa High School continue as Village and District seek resolution The Village of Massapequa Park and the Massapequa School District continue talks over parking problems caused by the number of Massapequa High School students who use a Village parking lot intended to provide space for patrons of nearby stores on Merrick Road. "This is affecting the quality of life for our residents and something needs to be done," said Mayor James Altadonna, Jr. during a recent meeting. In September, the school district and the Village discussed student loitering and parking problems in the municipal lot that sits next door to the high school. At that time, both sides agreed that a fence installed between the lot and the school could potentially solve that problem, but student parking on residential streets surrounding the campus continues to plague neighbors. According to Robert Piotrowski, vice principal of the high school, the problem is the parents. "We have asked that the many students allowed to take the bus do so, but have been ignored," said Piotrowski who said he even knows of a student who lives two blocks away who drives to school every day. "It takes a tremendous amount of insensitivity not to see the problems this causes," he added. According to district policy, students who reach a certain criteria such as maintaining a high grade average and holding an extracurricular activity, are given a senior parking spot as long as they agree to not take their car off campus to buy lunch. Out of 92 allotted, however, only 29 are utilized by the students.. Although the District says they enforce these terms because of a number of accidents around the Merrick Road campus as well as for pedestrian safety, others wonder why the school doesn't loosen its restrictions to help with the parking problems its causing. "That's not being a good neighbor," said Deputy Mayor Joe Pinto. "You're giving the residents your problems instead of solving it yourself. You should let the kids use their own parking spaces." "There's not a lot we can do about it," said Piotrowski adding that they had approached Southgate Shopping Center, across the street, to utilize 40 spots for students, but were turned down. According to Pietrowski plans to build eight additional classrooms in the back, where some of the parking is now, will not increase parking problems as they are building a lot for teachers. In the end, the village and district decided that a joint letter be sent to parents, alerting them to the problem, may help and agreed to continue working together to resolve the conflict. In other Village news, Cars speeding on Clark Boulevard in the Village continue to concern residents. One homeowner who lives on Clark, between First and Second Avenue, said her car was side-swiped by a drunk driver and wrote a letter to the board asking that "something needs to be done." Mayor Altadonna said the ongoing matter was being worked on. "We already had 30 MPH lines painted on the street, additional police presence and a speed trailer set up in that area. We need to see what the perception versus the reality is." The Sunoco Gas Station at 4850 Sunrise Highway has asked for approval for upgrades that includes a snack shop, similar to the gas station across the street. "I pay $42,000 in school taxes a year and need to generate that money from somewhere," said Rich Pastorella, who bought the station two years ago. According to the owner and his architect, Brian Moraghan from Moraghan Engineering of Brightwaters, the building will not be increasing in size and the three bays for automotive repair will remain, while updating the exterior portion of the gas station. The only change will be that a storage room will be enclosed as a store to sell coffee and snacks.
Public hearings showing plans for the Sunoco and Lexus, both on Sunrise Highway, are due to be held sometime in December.
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