Permits will be required for parking on 26 roads
Council divided along party lines in adopting controversial ordinance
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

SAYREVILLE - Despite concerns from commuters, the Borough Council on Monday adopted an ordinance that will restrict parking on several streets to those who live there.

The ordinance, which will allow only those residents to obtain permits, comes in response to concerns raised by homeowners about commuters parking in front of their homes and walking to nearby bus stops.

The ordinance affects all or part of 26 streets, including Ernston Road, Locust Lane, Avon Way, Pinetree Drive and Spruce Lane.

The council's five Democrats voted Monday to approve the measure, while lone Republican Councilman John Melillo voted in dissent. However, all members of the governing body agreed that they do not want out-of-town commuters parking on residential streets.

Several commuters addressed the governing body on the issue, including Linda Ricci, a commuter and resident of Sayreville. She said that while she is in favor of banning commuter parking on streets in the Laurel Park development, whose residents brought concerns to the council last spring, she opposes permit parking on Avon Way, where she parks to get to that street's bus stop.

"There is plenty of parking there," Ricci said, adding that she would like to see the council move ahead with plans to have North Ernston Road striped for additional commuter parking for Sayreville residents.

Councilman Daniel Buchanan said he is meeting with the Academy and NJ Transit bus companies this month to discuss routes and lots that could be utilized by commuters around the borough.

Council President Thomas Pollando attempted to reassure Ricci that the ordinance can be changed if the governing body sees a need.

"Streets can be added as well as taken away," Pollando said. "Even if we pass this tonight, we can add or delete by the time this takes effect."

Pollando also made note of a parking garage with 300 spaces planned for Raritan Street by Dunkin' Donuts, which the borough received an $800,000 grant for and will provide approximately 180 spaces for borough residents.

Bus commuter and resident Alice O'Donnell expressed frustration with the effect parking permits will have on the borough's commuters.

"Now we are being shut out by [having] permits imposed," O'Donnell said, adding that she also thinks Avon Way should not have been added to the ordinance.

Melillo said that he requested that Avon Way be added to the list of streets restricting parking in the ordinance because residents there raised concerns about commuters parking on the road.

O'Donnell asked that an investigation be done for Avon Way, adding that the residents do not experience hardship from bus commuters parking on their streets .

"We are respecting the neighbors," O'Donnell said, adding, "It is a public street, it is a public bus stop ... deal with it. I am not trying to be difficult, I am trying to get to work. I pay taxes just like anybody else."

Resident Robert Bogdanowicz, who lives on Avon Way, followed O'Donnell's address, telling the governing body that he is in favor of restricting parking to the respective homeowners on his street because of the safety of residents and their children.

"Residents pay property taxes to live in a residential area," Bogdanowicz said. "We are not paying taxes to live in a park-and-ride lot. People are paying good money to live in this area."

Republican Mayor Kennedy O'Brien raised concerns about the ordinance, saying that it would only push commuters out to nearby streets that do not require

permits and create new problems for those residents.

The Democrats answered back, accusing the Republicans of not taking action on the issue over the time they had control of the council.

O'Brien said that the ordinance will only compound the problem, adding that he is sympathetic to both resident bus commuters and residents who do not want cars parked in front of their homes.

"To me, it does not solve the problem," O'Brien said, "It is just pushing it out further, and the next residents will complain about commuters too."

Buchanan noted that the passage of this ordinance is only the first step in a larger process of improving the parking conditions in the borough for residents and bus commuters from Sayreville.

"We are working on a large plan," Buchanan said, "one to get out-of-town commuters off the streets. Two is to get our resident-commuter lots."

Buchanan said that the council have been looking at alternatives for commuters, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars parking lot, which is now being used by Academy bus commuters on the company's new route, and another lot by borough hall that can be used for the bus stop in that area.

Buchanan expressed frustration with O'Brien's criticisms of the ordinance, saying that this problem has existed for the mayor's entire tenure and has not been addressed until now.

O'Brien rebutted, saying that the problem is a complex one that requires the input of residents and Sayreville commuters to be adequately addressed. He cited overcrowding on the coast line train as part of the reason why commuting by bus is growing.

Councilman Stanley Drwal said he would like to see commuters in the borough have to travel no more than 10 minutes to get to their commuter lot. He added that not approving the ordinance would only be pushing the problem off even further.

Pollando reiterated that the council is seeking alternatives for commuters affected by the ordinance, adding that it is only the first step in many the council intends to take to address this issue.

"We give you our word," Pollando said, "we are not going to just pass this ordinance without looking at other areas."

ough hall that can be used for the bus stop in that area.

Buchanan expressed frustration with O'Brien's criticisms of the ordinance, saying that this problem has existed for the mayor's entire tenure and has not been addressed until now.

O'Brien rebutted, saying that the problem is a complex one that requires the input of residents and Sayreville commuters to be adequately addressed. He cited overcrowding on the coast line train as part of the reason why commuting by bus is growing.

Councilman Stanley Drwal said he would like to see commuters in the borough have to travel no more than 10 minutes to get to their commuter lot. He added that not approving the ordinance would only be pushing the problem off even further.

Pollando reiterated that the council is seeking alternatives for commuters affected by the ordinance, adding that it is only the first step in many the council intends to take to address this issue.

"We give you our word," Pollando said, "we are not going to just pass this ordinance without looking at other areas."