PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee introduced an ordinance designed to address municipal issuance of parking tickets along the newly re-striped corridor of Commonwealth Avenue in Strathmere July 8. Second reading was scheduled for Aug. 12.
Commonwealth Avenue is a county road and freeholders recently approved the re-configuration along the three-mile stretch between Strathmere and Sea Isle City (where the road is called Landis Avenue). That realignment was to allow pedestrians and bikers to move in a safer fashion, by eliminating parking on the road’s west side.
The project, which county officials estimated to have cost about $200,000-$250,000, addresses conditions which have caused numerous vehicle crashes and pedestrians struck by cars over the last few years.
During public comment, Linda Bateman, president of the Strathmere Improvement Association, said, “The new striping is not being enforced and we are experiencing difficulties. Cars are still parking along the corridor, especially where they cross over to Whale Beach, and there is no enforcement of this no-parking area.
“Over the busy Fourth of July Weekend, residents refrained from parking in front of their own homes while beachgoers arriving in cars ignored the no-parking signs and parked in their very own spots. We are asking the township to ensure enforcement.
“Some suggestions are to hire a parking attendant or to ask Sea Isle City to help on a mutual aid basis since down the road there they experienced no issues,” she continued.
Various members of the committee reacted to Bateman’s complaints. “Until Aug. 12 when we have final adoption of the ordinance to write tickets, we can’t do so,” said Mayor Richard Palombo. “State troopers were on the scene who could write tickets and cars were towed and tickets were written. They can’t be in one place all the time on such a busy weekend, but they were doing their job and enforcing the no-parking corridor.”
A representative from the State Police Woodbine station confirmed, “Three cars were towed and 35 parking summonses were issued during the holiday weekend.”
Deputy Mayor Edward Barr added, “Word will spread so we need to give this time to work. We created 200 parking spaces when parking along the road was taken away and only about 65 were filled initially.
“Everyone is on a learning curve but by the third day of the holiday weekend, the lot was two-thirds full. And the comparison with Sea Isle City enforcement is not fair since they have their own police force, including part-timer patrols for the summer,” he continued.
When asked by Bateman if area campgrounds could get the word out to their campers about not parking along the stretch, Committee member Curtis Corson, an owner of campgrounds, replied, “We have a hard time getting people to use recycling properly so I’m not sure what you’re asking is doable.”
Palombo said, “We certainly don’t want residents or other citizens to try to enforce this parking ban. We’ll start posting it on our website and TV.
“So please call 911 for state trooper assistance who will come and take care of the situation. We also urge some patience as everyone gets used to this new configuration, which will pay benefits for all,” he continued.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
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