On-Street Parking Permit to Require Proof of Need

Several conditions are attached to the .

The Parking Committee deliberated for months over possibly allowing overnight parking on borough streets, according to a presentation on the ordinance given April 8 by outgoing Council President Len Resto.

Most borough residences were built with driveway and garage space enough to fit one or two cars, but as time has passed many of those families have become families with two or more cars. Relatives move in, teenagers get a car when they get their license or college students come home for vacations and need to park.

Resto said the committee came up with some restrictions to the ordinance they thought were reasonable and would prevent a run on on-street parking permits. All the restrictions he suggested on April 8 were included in the ordinance as it was approved at first reading on April 22.

Permits would be limited to two per family and would only apply to vehicles under 2.5 tons, the weight of a small four-door car. A Honda Civic, for example, weighs between 1.9 and 3 tons, depending on the year and features such as whether it is a two-door or four-door. Trucks, mini-vans, full-size vans and SUVs would not be applicable for this permit, nor would commercial vehicles.

Anyone who wishes to get a permit would have to submit an application to the borough engineer demonstrating a lack of available space in their driveway and garage. According to the draft ordinance posted on the borough website, the application should include "a survey of [the] property, photographs of the driveway and/or garage and copies of all registrations for vehicles registered at the address."

The engineer, Vincent J. DeNave, will be able to reject any application, and appeals will be decided by the borough administrator, Robert Falzarano.

Only borough streets are applicable under the ordinance. State and county roads, such as Main Street, Fairmount Avenue and Watchung Avenue, would not be applicable for on-street parking overnight.

If the resident applying for a permit lives within 700 feet of a borough parking lot, such as the train station parking lot or the lot on Bowers Lane, the resident could be told to park there instead.

The council is expected to pass a separate resolution setting the fee for the overnight on-street parking permit at $250 each year. This rate would be subject to change.

Another temporary on-street parking permit would also be available for short-term visitors. This permit would be good for up to two weeks only.

Resto said he believed this ordinance represented a reasonable solution to the borough's overnight on-street parking issues, but that it was not perfect. "There is no perfect solution," he said.

Chatham Borough has had a longstanding ordinance prohibiting on-street parking between 2 and 6 a.m. Mayor Bruce Harris said at a previous meeting the ordinance was enacted "to maintain the village feel" in the borough.

The council will hold a final meeting and public vote on this ordinance when they meet Monday.

DeNave was not immediately available for comment on what streets might be applicable or not applicable for parking because of width or other factors.

A draft of the ordinance is in the Photos section of this article.