Petition Against Haddonfield's New Saturday Parking Fees Draws Momentum

HADDONFIELD, NJ — A petition with more than 2,000 signatures is calling for Haddonfield to restore free Saturday parking.

On Sept. 1, the borough fully switched to a cashless public-parking system, while also adding paid-parking hours for its downtown streets and municipal lots. Previously, Saturday public parking was free. But now drivers must pay to park between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturdays.

Additionally, paid parking has been extended for two hours on weekdays — also running from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Read more: Free-Parking Hours Cut In Haddonfield As Meters Go Cashless

The petition states that they can live with the additional weekday hours. But charging for Saturday parking leaves people with less incentive to visit Haddonfield's businesses, according to David Hunter, a resident who started the online petition.

"Haddonfield has many things that set it apart," Hunter wrote. "Free parking on Saturdays was one."

The petition, seeking 2,500 signatures, has 2,171 signees as of Thursday morning.

A borough spokesperson didn't return comment on the petition. But last month, Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich said the expansion of paid-parking hours will help reduce residential taxpayers' overall burden.

"Paid parking has existed for decades as it represents an opportunity to offset costs associated with waste collection, visual enhancements, and even public safety functions within the Downtown, which we are working even harder to grow into a true destination within the region," Bianco Bezich told Patch in a statement. "Instead of imposing a burden solely upon our residential taxpayers, paid parking is a method of capturing revenue from those who drive in to enjoy our shopping & dining, as well as larger experiential events and festivals."

Several residents spoke out against the parking changes Sept. 25 at Haddonfield's Board of Commissioners meeting. Some also voiced concerns about Premium Parking System — the digital system the borough uses for cashless parking transactions — and the inability to park for short periods of time without payment.

Previously, parking for 12 minutes was free.

"When municipalities introduce and update pay-to-park systems, they need to be really sure the systems are thoughtfully planned, smoothly implemented, customer-friendly and glitch-free," Hunter said at the meeting. "Recent changes to metered parking in Haddonfield satisfied none of those criteria."

At the meeting, Bianco Bezich said it would take at least two months to institute any changes, since parking extensions would need to be introduced on first reading and receive a public hearing before a vote, according to the Haddonfield Sun.

"I'm a believer in seeing how things work and collecting data and then making decisions and collectively collaborating to do that," Bianco Bezich said.