An ordinance was introduced on first reading at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18 that amends the borough’s code on parking time limits, parking prohibitions and adds a handicap parking spot.
The original ordinance called for no parking on the north side of East Park Avenue from South East Atlantic Avenue to Centre Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on the north side of the street. Residents on East Park Avenue from South East Atlantic Avenue to Chestnut Street came out to speak against their section being a part of the parking restriction. The commissioners listened to the residents and made the amendment that night, stating the restriction on East Park Avenue is to go from Chestnut Street to Centre Street instead.
The commissioners introduced the ordinance, and stated they were making an amendment as the original ordinance called for no parking on the north side of East Park Avenue from South East Atlantic Avenue to Centre Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 1 to June 30. They amended the ordinance to say Monday through Friday rather than Sept. 1 to June 30.
During public comment, Jane Bloom, who lives along South East Atlantic Avenue, spoke for herself as well as the four other individuals who were in attendance, asking that from East Atlantic Avenue to Chestnut Street not be included in the amendment.
“We felt it places an undue hardship on us as homeowners on that street, and the problem does not warrant a no parking in afternoon hours. We can’t have guests park there, we can’t have service vehicles park there. I’m not allowed to park in front of my house, and that will mean I have no parking anywhere adjacent to my house,” Bloom said.
Mayor Jeff Kasko asked for some clarification as a petition was sent to the borough asking for these restrictions to be put up due to teachers and others parking there for extended periods of time during the school year. The residents of the street in question had signed the petition.
David Applebee, who headed the petition, explained it was signed by every homeowner from South Atlantic Avenue to Centre Street twice, two years ago and six months ago. Since then, the five residents present at the meeting did not agree with the signatures they made before. Applebee suggested an amendment be made, just excluding their section of the street.
“On the other hand, the 13 signatures from Chestnut to Centre would still very much like to proceed as you have outlined,” Applebee said. “We are thrilled by the decision made by you gentleman on our behalf.”
Commissioners unanimously approved amendment to the ordinance, making it officially say no parking on the north side of East Park Avenue from Chestnut Street to Centre Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on the north side of the street.
The rest of the ordinance calls for a parking time limit of three hours on Linden Avenue on the west side from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday from West Kings Highway to Trueman Avenue; parking restrictions on the south side of Belmont Avenue from Potter Street to Roberts Avenue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; and one handicap parking spot on Centre Street on the east side, 250 feet from Ellis Street.
The second and final reading of the ordinance will be at the next Board of Commissioners meeting on Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Borough Hall.
In others news:
• The ordinance amending the chapter of the borough’s code dealing with the Historic District to remove a residential property on Warwick Road was passed on second reading. The property in question was not originally listed on the borough’s map of the Historic District, yet once the owners of the property purchased it, confusion arose as to whether it was in the Historic District. This ordinance officially takes it off so there is no further confusion.
• Commissioners passed an ordinance on first reading that calls to repeal chapter 98 entitled “Driveways” from the code of the borough. The chapter was made in 1960 and conflicts with the current Land Use/Zoning Laws on driveways.
• Commissioners gave approval to hold the Fall Festival, Antique Auto Show and First Night. The Fall Festival is planned to be held on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a rain date of Oct. 18. The Antique Auto Show is to be held on Sept. 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a rain date of Sept. 26 on Kings Highway from Haddon Avenue to PATCO.
• The Board of Commissioners meeting will go back its normal schedule, meeting twice a month, rather than its summer schedule of once a month. The Board of Commissioners meetings usually take place on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
