Officials debate parking of commercial vehicles
By dave benjamin
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Members of the Township Committee are wrestling with the proper terminology for an ordinance which would prohibit the parking of commercial vehicles in residential zones.
"We’re trying to protect the residential zones from what could be considered intrusions of commercial vehicles in a neighborhood," Committeeman David Salkin said at a May 16 meeting. "Parking dump trucks, or landscapers’ trailers with or without equipment, and large vehicles. The problem is how do you define the vehicles without causing a ripple effect and a million problems?"
Salkin said problems arise when officials try to draw a definitive line between license plates, name signs on the truck, along with size and weights of the vehicles.
"Commercial registration is not strictly enforced," Committeewoman Dorothy Avallone said.
Deputy Mayor Ray Kershaw noted that some highways in New Jersey and New York do not allow commercially registered vehicles, but said if an owner has passenger plates he may take a truck on those roads.
"Here’s the reverse," said Mayor David Segal. "Condos do not allow any vehicles with commercial license plates, even if it’s a Mercury Sable."
Segal gave an example of someone who owns a luxury car with the name of a company on the side of the vehicle, which also has commercial license plates.
"It’s smaller than the SUV next door to me," Segal said. "Does that mean I can’t park it?"
Salkin noted that the weight requirement, 11,000 pounds, should also be considered.
"Anything under 11,000 pounds you can park regardless of the plate," Segal said. "So that’s another story."
Township Attorney Duane Davison said he spent time riding around town examining the situation and is trying to incorporate all of the factors into an ordinance.
"That’s why this was just a nightmare," Davison said.
The attorney explained there are large lots of 5 acres or more with a residential use and officials could wind up with a storage lot, which they don’t want to allow to happen.
Discussion was tabled to an upcoming workshop meeting to give committee members additional time to study the ordinance, the zoning and the different vehicle specifications.
A second ordinance regarding parking was also discussed. This ordinance, if adopted, would prohibit overnight parking of trucks (except pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles not in excess of 8,000 pounds) commercial vehicles, trailers, boats, recreational vehicles, pole trailers, equipment, tractors or a bus on residential streets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Segal said an existing ordinance already states that these vehicles cannot be parked in the front yard or driveway, but can be parked beyond the front setback line on the side of the house next to or behind the garage.
This proposed ordinance refers only to overnight parking on the street. Discussion of this ordinance will also be continued at the committee’s next workshop meeting.
In cooperation with the Freehold Township middle schools’ substance abuse prevention education program, certificates were to have been distributed to 19 Barkalow Middle School students and 21 Eisenhower Middle School students at last night’s committee meeting.
During the action portion of the meeting, a resolution authorizing application for a Safe and Secure Communities Program grant was approved. The project is a joint effort between the Department of Law and Public Safety and the township.
The committee passed a resolution rejecting bids the township received for the construction of a new pedestrian bridge at Liberty Oak Park.
"The two bids were over by 20 percent," Segal said, "and we’re going to re-bid the project."
In other business, 17 consent agenda items were passed by the committee including authorization for a Monmouth County Drug Enforcement Demand Reduction Grant; the authorization for temporary parking restrictions during the Monmouth County Fair, July 26-30 at East Freehold Park; and the awarding of contracts for 2000 Lyme disease scientific research analyst and consultant.

