Parking Problems in Avalon

Parking time limit not easy to enforce, Avalon chief says
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Published: Friday, December 16, 2005

Updated: Friday, December 16, 2005AVALON-Police Chief Stephen Sykes said enforcing a two-hour parking limit in the business district this summer will be difficult.Sykes, in a memo he sent to Borough Council on Wednesday, outlined potential problems with monitoring vehicles by two-hour limit signs, particularly without parking meters to log the time.Without parking meters, a police officer would have to keep a notepad and record the vehicles in the spots and the time, Sykes wrote in the memo.The borough opens itself to complaints if motorists receiving tickets contend they were not in that spot for two hours, he wrote. Also, a vehicle leaving a spot for a brief time and then returning can also pose problems.Sykes said in the memo he will assign a bicycle officer in the business district to try to enforce the parking regulations."Myself, representing the Police Department, want to see this work, and I will do everything in my power to see that this happens," he wrote.The borough plans to limit parking times on Dune Drive to free more spots in the business district in the summer.Avalon paid a company to monitor parking availability late this summer. The study indicated that about half the number of cars parked on Dune Drive remained there for two or more hours and sometimes all day.A parking limit, in conjunction with a trolley system Avalon is considering, is designed to put less stress on downtown parking without introducing parking meters.Avalon's neighbors - Sea Isle City and Stone Harbor - both use parking meters.Meters also generate money, but some are concerned that meters will discourage shoppers."It's going to be a test to see," said Avalon Borough Council President Richard Dean. "We're going to try it, and eventually we may have to go to meters."Borough Councilman David Ellenberg said the two-hour limit must be enforced to be effective."I can understand (the police chief's) concern about having a difficult task. But I think the bottom line is if we don't come into this program with the enforcement, then the parking and the trolley issue is not going to be rectified," Ellenberg said.Ellenberg said the borough can reevaluate the parking limit if it is not effective."One of the reasons we identified this two-hour time frame was we said that's the best way to get this rolling. If that doesn't work, then we'll have to do something else. But I think it will work," Ellenberg said.Parking on Dune Drive becomes a greater concern as Avalon expects several dozen new shops to open in the business district in the following year, Ellenberg said.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com