Parking Lot Rental Ordinance Would Put Restrictions on Usage

Residents and borough officials discussed a proposed ordinance that would change the rules for overnight parking in non-residential lots at a public hearing Tuesday night.

Some residents questioned the current state of parking lots in their neighborhoods stating that they regularly see cars, and in some cases, large vehicles such as tractor trailers and box trucks, parked in such lots for days. Baldwin Avenue resident Judy Ferrari showed the mayor and council photographs she took of trucks parked at the Elks Club parking lot. Joe Ordino, who lives across from the VFW, questioned if the ordinance would now bring in even more cars to his neighborhood. 

Officials explained that currently a moratorium exists which has allowed spaces in such lots to be rented out but this ordinance would now put restrictions on the size of the vehicles and set a time limit for when the spaces could be occupied.  Officials had put this moratorium in place years ago for borough residents who were in need of parking while still allowing the borough to maintain its no-overnight street parking rule. Any existing moratorium agreements will end on Dec. 31 of this year, officials stated.

Borough Attorney Ralph Chandless told residents that if the ordinance is adopted the borough’s zoning enforcement official would inspect the lots and designate which spaces could be rented out by the property owner. Cars could be parked only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. and are limited to 20 feet, no wider than 9 feet and no greater in height than 10 feet.  Property owners would need to apply for an annual permit in order to rent out spaces. The renting of spaces is limited to Hasbrouck Heights residents only, Chandless explained.

The permit would cost $10 per year for premises primarily used by charitable or non-profit organizations and $50 for all other premises.

Ordino questioned the council as to who will be on hand to enforce the rules of the ordinance if cars are parked past 8:01 a.m. Mayor Rose Heck and Chandless advised that if he or any resident were to witness an example of an ordinance violation he or she should report it to the police as the cooperation of the community is needed in order to enforce the rules that are set by the borough.

She pointed out that the ordinance was born out of a neighborhood complaint regarding a vehicle being parked permanently in a non-residential lot.  She stated that the borough never intended to allow parking lots to be used for storage and this ordinance would put an end to that.

Before the ordinance can be adopted by the council, the borough’s Planning Board will need to give its approval. The public hearing on the ordinance will continue on August 9.