O.B. to allow Sayreville use of empty commuter lot Greene warns council: Once you give it away, it's hard to get it back BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer Old Bridge commuters now have more parking options, and Sayreville residents may soon be able to share the new lot. A proposed interlocal agreement between the two towns would allocate 70 of the 145 parking spots at the Home Depot parking lot, located on Route 9 south in Old Bridge, for Sayreville commuters. "I perceive this as two communities working together," Old Bridge Mayor Jim Phillips said of the agreement. The Old Bridge Township Council tabled a resolution authorizing the agreement at its July 16 meeting, because it will have to first modify an ordinance to allow Sayreville residents to park in the newly opened lot. The lot opened to Old Bridge residents July 9, but only one car has parked in the lot since that time, according to David Merwin, manager of parking facilities in the township. "We have ample parking," Merwin said. "The mayor has made commuter parking a priority, and continues to make it a priority." Old Bridge has a total of more than 1,200 commuter parking spaces overall, Merwin said. The NJ Transit park-and-ride offers an additional 800 spaces for residents, he said. Councilman Richard Greene voiced concern about the interlocal agreement, saying he would vote against it. He cited the parking lot at Inverness Drive as being overcrowded, with cars parking along the perimeter and blocking the entrance. "It's a fire hazard," Greene said. Merwin refuted that point, saying the problems at Inverness have been dealt with. "We have not allowed anyone to park on the perimeter for at least three months," Merwin said. "The mayor saw that and said, 'Get out and get more parking.' " Still, Greene had reservations about offering parking spots to Sayreville. "I think we should take these parking spots and give them to the township of Old Bridge," Greene said. "For better or for worse, Old Bridge is growing, and we need those parking spots." Though there is more than enough parking for the township's commuters, Merwin said, he is in negotiations for more spaces near Garden State Parkway exit 120, and along the Route 9 corridor. The township is working with BJ's Wholesale Club, the Outback Steakhouse and Lowe's, according to Merwin. If approved, the interlocal agreement with Sayreville would not go into effect until September, Merwin said. The ordinance is up for second reading and public comment at the council's Aug. 13 meeting. "We will now have 30 days to see where we stand," Phillips said. Councilwoman Lucille Panos said she would feel more comfortable about allocating the spaces for Sayreville residents if township officials waited until September or October to monitor the use of the lot by Old Bridge residents. "I think the summer is a bad time to see about how many spaces are used," Panos said. "I have no problem being generous, I just don't want to cut us off." Phillips said the parking lot at the Carl Sandburg Middle School that was opened for commuters in January when the Board of Education entered into an interlocal agreement with the township is normally half full, indicating that there is more parking for resident commuters than necessary at this time. "The other 1,200 spaces that Old Bridge has available will be exclusively for Old Bridge," Phillips said. In addition, Phillips said, the interlocal agreement would indicate that renewal of Sayreville permits would be dependent on whether the spots were needed by Old Bridge residents. The permits purchased by Sayreville residents for the 70 spaces will be only for use in the lot at Home Depot, according to Phillips. A one-year parking permit in the township costs $25, in addition to the daily $1 fee that commuters deposit into a box on the premises of the lot, Merwin said. Merwin would not release an exact figure for how much the township is paying to lease the lot from Home Depot because of ongoing negotiations with other entities. "They did us a favor, and we did them a favor," Merwin said. "We leased it at a nominal fee." Councilman Kevin Calogera said he is pleased to be working with Sayreville, and hopes to do so on a more regular basis. Phillips agreed, saying it is part of being a good neighbor. Greene, however, stood by his earlier reservations, saying the township might eventually need the spaces for residents. "Sometimes when you give something away, it's hard to take it back," Greene said. Phillips said the commuter lot at Home Depot remained empty aside from a car with Florida license plates when he passed it Tuesday, which reiterated his point about there being an abundance of parking for Old Bridge commuters. "It makes absolutely no sense to let these spaces sit idle when good people could be using them to make their lives a little bit easier," Phillips said. "We have a good relationship with Sayreville. There is no reason we can't work together." Merwin said residents who wish to receive e-mail alerts regarding commuter lot openings and closings can sign up under commuter parking at www.oldbridge.com.