A Bay Shore business owner started a petition against a plan to install new parking meters this summer.

"It's almost unanimous that we don't want parking meters in Bay Shore," said Stephen Siben, a longtime attorney whose law firm is located on Main Street. He has collected more than 2,000 names on a petition to stop the plan.

He says parking meters will drive away customers who will shop and dine elsewhere if they have to pay.

A total of 48 parking meters will be installed in stages, starting at the Bay Shore train station and on Maple Avenue this summer.

Charles Beitch, from Suffolk Printing, is in favor of the meters. He hopes they will force employees to park in a free lot just behind Main Street, instead of parking in spots intended for customers.

Town of Islip officials told News 12 that the parking meters will be similar to the ones already installed in other towns like Babylon and Patchogue. They say they will allow users to pay through their smartphones and even receive text notifications when their parking time is about to expire.

Town officials told News 12 that there will still be plenty of free parking available.