Politics & Government

TOBAY Notebook: Hicksville Garage Set to Open, Two Spring Cleaning Reminders

There are changes to the hours the garage will be open, but you'll still be able to get your car.

The s new at the Long Island Railroad station at Hicksville opens Monday, in theory making parking for town commuters more convenient.

Since the time the old garage was deemed unsafe and closed in 2008, town residents have been able to park at the Sears and Broadway Mall parking lots, which was something of a hike from the station. Shuttle buses were provided.

The new, state-of-the-art garage at the corner of Duffy Avenue and Newbridge Road will open at 5 a.m. to town residents with appropriate stickers. From there, it is a short-block's walk to the Long Island Rail Road's Hicksville station platform.

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The price tag for the project that replaced the old structurally damaged garage is $36.4 million. It will hold 1,440 vehicles on four levels, about the size of the old facility.

Some residents complained that the new lot will not be open 24 hours, as the old one was, but will be closed from midnight until 5 a.m. weekdays. Town spokeswoman Phillis Barry explained that residents will be able to retrieve their cars after the midnight closing, just not be able to park in the garage from midnight to 5 a.m. 

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The reason, she said, is to allow town crews to perform cleaning, maintenance and other work on the new garage. During those early morning hours, there is ample outdoor parking just outside Hicksville station.

Remember: To use the town's parking garage and other lots, you need the appropriate sticker. You can get them by calling the Town Clerk’s Office at (515) 624-6324. An application and instructions can be downloaded from the Town’s Website: www.oysterbaytown.com.

Yard Waste Goes Out on S.O.R.T. Days 

With the prospect of spring cleaning around the corner, the town issued a reminder that yard waste should be put out for collection on their S.O.R.T. recycling day.  

said that the program, begun last year, takes yard waste to the town's compost facilities. "One of the prime benefits of recycling yard waste is that the cost to take these materials to a compost facility is less than the cost to dispose of them at an out-of-state landfill," Venditto said.

Then, some of the compost is available free to residents for use on their home gardening and landscaping projects.

The town's guidelines for yard waste are: 

  • Yard waste is defined as grass clippings, weeds, leaves, tree trimmings/branches/twigs, hedge and shrub clippings, small roots, other garden/yard waste and Christmas trees.
  • It should be placed in plastic bags, with each bag weighing no more than 50 pounds.
  • It must not include household garbage, refuse or animal waste.
  • Branches and large roots should be tied in bundles no more than four feet long and weighing less than 50 pounds. Stumps should be free of soil and cut into pieces weighing no more than 50 pounds. 

 “The town is committed to providing high quality, environmentally sound recycling and sanitation services," Venditto said. "By having yard waste sent to a compost facility, the town is protecting the environment and saving tax dollars.”  

Reminder: Town Landscapers Must be Licensed

Oyster Bay Town Clerk Steve Labriola issued a reminder about using licensed landscapers.

Since 1997, town law requires all landscaping firms to be licensed. They can be identified the identification decal affixed to the driver’s side door on the bumper of any trailer used for their business. Landscapers must carry the license or a photocopy signed by the licensee at all times, Labriola said.

Town law restricts landscapers to work Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. No work is permitted on Sunday. 

Labriola said residents who witness an unlicensed landscaper operating or witness a violation of the town's code can call the Department of Safety at 677-5350 both weekdays and weekends. Public Safety Officers are authorized to issue appearance tickets and summonses for violations.  


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