Alternate Side May Be Reduced in Prospect Heights

After years of complaining about having to move their cars four times a week, residents in Prospect Heights and Crown Heights finally have a chance to cut alternate side rules down to twice a week.

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In April, City Council passed a bill, Intro 287-A, that would allow communities that have a cleanliness rating of 90 percent or more for two years in a row to reduce street cleaning to twice a week.

Luckily Prospect Heights (and Crown Heights, which both fall under Community Board 8 and thus are treated as one unit) meet that criteria and are eligible for the reduction.

The next step is for the community to decide if it wants alternate side parking reduced. Although to car owners it may seem a no brainer, the change means that not only will the streets be cleaned less often, but that the periods when snow removal, tree trimming, infrastructure work done by utility companies and other work that requires a car-free curb will also be cut in half.

Community Board 6, which serves such neighborhoods as Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Park Slope, successfully lobbied for , and Community Board 2, serving Fort Greene, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights reduced its alternate side rules in 2009.

Community Board 8 will hold a hearing on the topic on Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Hope City Empowerment Center, 650 Washington Avenue (near Bergen Street)

At hearing, each person who wishes to speak will be given three minutes, and written testimony will also be accepted.