Fix Proposed For Residential Parking Concerns

Parking in Morristown is an ongoing battle to balance the needs of residents, businesses and institutions. After hearing feedback from residents, the town worked toward finding a solution in the Dehart Street area. 

Morristown Business Administrator Michael Rogers led a presentation on proposed residential parking regulations at Tuesday night's council meeting.

“In our tireless pursuit to improve the quality of life for our residents, the mayor had charged me with looking at this particular area ... to looking at the current regulations and asked me to devise a new scheme that would address some of the issues that we’ve been seeing for the last year or two,” said Rogers. “We went over the concerns of this unique neighborhood. We need to consider the commercial as well as the residential components. We came up with this plan that is representative of this ordinance.”

Reasons behind this parking change:

• Historic District: overflow of parking from central business district visitors Thursday through Sunday
• Shortage of resident parking
• Quality of life issues such as excessive noise, trash caused by nighttime visitors
• Provide clean and safe conditions
• Preserve and protect the safety of residents and their property

Residents get issued a permanent sticker that is valid for one year from issuance for up to three vehicles owned. Each residential unit gets four visitor parking stickers.

In regards to institutions such as MacCulloch Hall, Kellogg Club and Assumption School, parking procedures will be established with the police bureau and parking authority for these institutions’ calendar and special events.

"There were concerns with how their visitors will be treated. Once this (new parking regulation) is in place, they’ll have their regular calendars and know when their events are taking place," said Rogers.

"Any special events, they will contact the names on their contact list as well as there is a procedure being worked out between the parking authorities and these entities that will create placards that will be provided by the parking authority that they could produce for that particular night that they will be able to provide to their guests. They were pleased with that procedure."

Here are the new parking restrictions. Resident stickers are exempt from time limits except for metered parking.

The following streets have 2-hour parking 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday.

• Madison Street - entire length
• Maple Avenue between Madison and James streets
• MacCulloch Avenue between Madison and James streets

The following streets have 2-hour parking 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday and residential parking only 6 p.m. - 9 a.m. all the time:

• Colles Ave - entire length
• Dehart St - from Colles Ave to Verizon Driveway between Maple and MacCulloch avenues
• Farragut Pl - entire length
• MacCulloch Ave - from Madison St. to Mt. Kemble Ave.
• Market St - from Maple Ave to MacCulloch Ave
• Miller Rd -  from Maple Ave to Ogden Pl
• Perry St - entire length
• Wetmore Ave - entire length

"It’s important to note that on Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. there will be no parking restrictions, so that will still provide for opportunities for people to park … because there are events that go on in that area for various reasons," said Rogers. "Currently on Dehart Street between MacCulloch and Maple Avenue, there are parking meters on the east side."

Timeline

• April 23 - Council Introduction
• May 14 - Council Adoption
• On or about June 4, the parking authority on-street notice period will begin and run for 14 days. “We will start to post green neon signs (about this new regulation). Council President Michelle Dupree Harris asked that when posting the green neon signs, that the signs double up on existing posts to avoid clutter.
• On or about June 17, enforcement begins.

“I want to say how wonderful this is that it’s happening ... Residential-only parking over on King, Pine and over by the hospital has really changed the quality of life for people and (helped) their property values,” said Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman. “It’s good for all of us and the town. The minor inconvenience that your guests have passe so that they don’t get tickets ... is more than offset for the group quality of life ... to know who’s parking in front of your house at night.”

Councilmember Stefan Armington asked about Maple and South Street.

“There is no change. These are all metered parking areas and these will stay the same,” said Rogers.

Councilwoman’s Raline Smith-Reid brought up the fact that Councilwoman Alison Deeb was not mentioned during the presentation.

“She has worked very hard on this concept of parking,” said Smith-Reid. “She’s not here. I did want the public to know … that the councilwoman of this ward did work hard on this …”

“What we had discussions about were particularly on Dehart street (and the parking meters on that street),” said Rogers. “At that point, we were looking at the whole neighborhood and that was one part that she brought to our attention and that was a good point that we weren’t initially considering.”

“I think that putting in place these new parking regulations will go a long way toward helping the considerable problems in our neighborhood,” said Donna McNamera. “I have talked with a lot of people in the neighborhood and I believe the sentiment is very much shared ... The sentiment is very positive and appreciative of these regulations being imposed.”

“To put the proposal together for the parking solution, I think it does go a long way,” said Don Ginsberg. “I think it will make a big difference and it’s nice to hear our issues and complaints are being addressed.”