Proposed Parking Ban On Brick Street Goes Too Far, Residents Say

BRICK, NJ — A group of Brick Township residents are urging the town to reconsider a proposal to ban parking on both sides of their street, saying a total ban is too extreme.

The Township Council on Tuesday night introduced an ordinance to ban on-the-street parking on Davos Road. The ban, Council President Vincent Minichino said, was the result of concerns about the ability of emergency vehicles to get down the street.

A study conducted of the street by Brick Township police, the Brick Township Bureau of Fire Safety and the township's engineering department found the width of the street does not meet minimum standards for on-street parking, Minichino said in reading an explanation of the ordinance.

New Jersey residential improvement standards require 30 feet of paved width to allow parking on both sides of the road, and at least 28 feet of paved width to allow parking on one side of the road.

Davos Road is 29 feet wide where it opens onto Princeton Avenue, Minichino said, and then varies in width, tapering to 24 feet before the circle at its dead end that allows vehicles to turn around.

Its most narrow point is 21 feet wide, which Davos Road residents said is the result of a tree that is in the road.

"That tree is owned by the town," one Davos Road resident said. Removing that tree would address the very worst point, which he said was the hang-up when a firetruck was unable to get down the street recently.

The tree's impingment on the street width was compounded by someone who parked next to it, he said.

Residents also said they are being impacted because of overflow parking from Windward Tavern on nights when the restaurant has outdoor events.

"On a normal night, there's maybe two or three cars parked along the road," said Cara Kellner, who lives on Davos Road. She said the road also is affected by SummerFest, as people park along the street and walk to the park for the concerts, in spite of signs posted that say no parking.

Tim Englehardt of Davos Road said he understands the safety concerns, but said the parking ban will hurt the ability of people to sell their homes.

"Who will want to buy here if you can't park on the street?" he said.

The street is quiet in the winter, Englehardt said; it's the summer nights, particularly when SummerFest overlaps with something at Windward Tavern, that a problem arises. He said he has never seen the SummerFest parking ban enforced or tickets handed out, which adds to the frustration of residents who live there being subject to the ban.

Gary Saarloos, who has lived on Davos Road for more than 30 years, said the total parking ban will force him to spend thousands to widen his driveway so he can accommodate vehicles for his son and grandson, who live with him.

He said the parking had only recently become an issue, because of Windward Tavern's popular events, and suggested widening the road.

Englehardt suggested the town consider issuing parking permits to homeowners, similar to what Point Pleasant Beach does in the summer to restrict parking and aid enforcement.

The council is scheduled to consider the ordinance and have a second reading and possible adoption on Oct. 11.