Borough Stalls Overnight Parking Spots

Residents of Caldwell opposed to creating overnight parking spots on borough streets can now sleep better. 

Borough officials have taken a proposed plan to create a limited number of overnight permits spots on nine streets off the table, according to Councilman Peter Murray, chair of the Public Safety committee.

As an alternative, police are being more stringent when accepting requests for overnight parking, Murray said.

The streets that were being considered for overnight parking spaces were: Elm Road, Academy Road, Espy Road, Washburn Place, Arlington Avenue, Prospect Street, Westover Avenue and Parkway East and Parkway West. The borough had proposed five to seven spots near apartment buildings on these blocks in order to alleviate the number of requests for overnight parking made to Caldwell police.

An ordinance in the borough prohibits more than 30 minute parking from 2 to 6 a.m. throughout the town. However, police have accepted requests made by drivers who register their location and license plate number with the agency.

According to borough officials, the courtesy has been abused in recent years with police receiving more than 10,000 requests annually for overnight parking permission.

Wakefield Place resident Carla Marris said at Tuesday night’s council meeting she was grateful that the town was getting tougher on overnight parking requests.

“You have shown that the council can work and make the residents happy and not just do what you want,” Marris said.

The overnight parking spots were proposed as part of a the town is rolling out this spring.

The borough introduced an amended traffic regulations ordinance Tuesday which would in part create a temporary overnight permit. Those wishing to park overnight in Caldwell would have to go to borough hall to purchase a permit at a cost of $5 a night.

Residents’ filled the council chambers in March , saying they could have an affect on property values and allowing them would open the door to more spots being added in the future.

The amended ordinance would also create an employee parking permit for the Smull Avenue parking lot, as well as lot-specific day and night permits for residents.