Complaints spur parking restrictions in Midland Park
SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY LYNN BRUGGEMANN
CORRESPONDENT
MIDLAND PARK SUBURBAN NEWS
MIDLAND PARK — The Borough Council will hold a public hearing tonight, Sept. 25, on an ordinance that would restrict parking on Maltbie Avenue and Busteed Drive.
The ordinance, which was introduced Sept. 11 in response to residents’ complaints about parking by parents dropping off and picking up their children from Ridge Elementary School in Ridgewood, would prohibit parking between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
The restrictions on Maltbie would apply to both sides of the road north of Franklin Avenue to Busteed Drive. Restricted parking on Busteed would be from the eastern and western curbs of Maltbie.
Maltbie begins at Godwin Avenue and continues north, crossing Franklin Avenue, which becomes West Ridgewood Avenue, before ending at Busteed. Ridge Elementary School is at 325 W. Ridgewood Ave.
“I am happy the council has taken action to resolve the issue and make it safer for residents and school children,” said Lorraine DeLuca of Franklin Avenue.
A resident for 30 years, DeLuca said she has seen an increase in traffic in the last five years.
“It has been unbearable to get in or out of my driveway,” said DeLuca. “I avoid West Ridgewood Avenue from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. It is dangerous. “
Residents of Maltbie, many of whom live north of Franklin Avenue, attended the March 27 council meeting to share their experiences and frustrations with blocked driveways, illegal parking near stop signs and unsafe road conditions that had been occurring on a regular basis.
Resident Arthur “Skip” Marchetti brought the matter to the attention of Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan during a monthly “Coffee With the Mayor.”
“Maltbie Avenue is a danger zone,” Marchetti.
“I am concerned about our children and Ridgewood students,” Joan Skudera said. “Someone is going to get hurt.”
“There are no sidewalks and people have to walk in the road,” said James Canellas. “Children are running up and down the road.”
Resident Mark Schaefer said his biggest concern was parking too close to intersections.
“They are parking at the stop sign on all four corners,” Schaefer said. “This is a safety issue.”
Police Chief Michael Marra said signs would be installed to advise motorists of the parking restrictions and violators would be fined up to $100.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/complaints-spur-parking-restrictions-on-two-streets-1.1095531
If the drivers has been considerate it would not have come to this.
Try walking
Let’s just go ahead and annex Midland Park and get it over with.
I’m glad to see Midland Park won’t put up with these inconsiderate Ridgewood residents.
The lack of consideration shown by these parents is disgraceful.
With less parking now the issue is only going to get worse.
This action by MP wont reduce the amount of cars it will just move the problem into a more condensed area.
Nothing new….this was brought upon themselfs….after many warnings and police patrols the parents at Ridge simply stated that it was all about THEM…as usual.
now Midland Park will act upon these actions and post no parking signs on maltbie and busteed 7am/9am – 2pm/4pm.
Your attitude is so typical of the new residents who think the world revolves around them and they could care less about anyone else.
Take your money back to NYC.
Get out of the car. Show your children that it is possible to walk somewhere. No need to live in your car.
Last time this came up someone tried to say that they are all busy dual income busy people who had to get to important places. Time to get over yourself.
I’d like Midland Park to make it a ‘tow-away’ zone, then enforce it with tow trucks.
The cost of the ticket won’t deter these new residents .
No amount of complaining about getting the children to walk is going to change anything.
This is the age we live in now. It’s not a Ridgewood thing. It’s an everywhere thing. Kinds are driven to and from school, even if the house they live in is half a mile away. Personally, I think the whole driving kids to school thing is partly due to mothers over-stating their responsibilities in their logic as to why they “can’t” return to work. Kids beyond the age of about 9 should be walking, and a good rain coat makes it do-able every day. But, like I said, this is not going to happen.
So the answer is, there isn’t one. Masses of cars will continue to congregate in the school areas and residents are just going to have to suck it up.