An ordinance introduced during the Feb. 16 Sea Bright Borough Council meeting would establish an annual residential on-street permit parking program in the downtown district.
The ordinance, if approved at the council’s March 2 meeting, would allow for 11 streets in the borough to reserve one side for residential parking at all times.
The new initiative would ensure adequate parking for residents while addressing the need to properly manage public safety and traffic and provide adequate public parking for those who wish to patronize local businesses and the beachfront, explained Councilwoman Dina Long.
Resident parking permit restrictions would affect Front, River, Church, East Church, New, East New, Beach, Center, Surf and South streets and Peninsula Avenue, where, according to the ordinance, “There has been demonstrated an ongoing, excessive and daily problem which creates a hardship and public safety issues for residents of a municipal street.”
Two parking permits would be issued for each residential dwelling unit.
Long recommended three permits be issued per dwelling unit. Her reasoning was that there are many house shares in the borough.
“There are three or four tenants in some homes. We probably don’t have enough [space] for one [permit] per dwelling,” Long said.
Councilman James LoBiondo disagreed, stating that at the very maximum, two should be permitted.
Following a lengthy discussion regarding the appropriate cost of each permit, Borough Council members agreed with Long, who objected to charging any fee.
“It’s a hardship because we’re only doing half the street,” Long said. “There’s no guarantee — a permit doesn’t mean you’ll have a spot.”
Council President Jack Keeler proposed the borough charge a modest $5 fee per permit. Long added that she feels it’s unfair to charge.
“I know borough residents who are losing their homes. By not charging a fee, it’s not costing us much of anything out of pocket, it’s costing us in manpower,” Long said.
Councilman C. Read Murphy suggested a charge due to the costs the borough would incur for signage and stickers.
“Signs aren’t replaced each year,” Long countered, adding, “We’re going to make money on this [ordinance] because of enforcement.”
Violators would be subject to a fine in the amount of $150 for the first offense and $300 for each subsequent offense.
“Many people might think it’s stiff, but if we only charged $20, people would say ‘Fine by me,’ park illegally and pay the fine,” said Murphy.
“Especially in the summertime,” added LoBiondo. Applications for residential parking permits would be made available at the Police Department. Proof of residency of the owner or lessee of a vehicle must be presented when applying.