Some businesses along Route 35’s northbound lanes in Lavallette’s commercial district have requested two-hour time limits be placed on spaces in front of their establishments.
According to officials, the businesses say they have seen an uptick in cars utilizing the spaces along the highway for all-day beach trips, leaving no place for customers to park. So far, Lenny’s Pizzeria and Rite-Aid Pharmacy has requested time limits be placed in front of their storefronts.
“We are conducting a survey of business owners to see who would want a change,” said Mayor Walter LaCicero. “The [traffic] ordinance is required to be changed as well.”
Ultimately, the decision to implement time limits on parking along the highway is up to the state Department of Transportation, since Route 35 is a state highway.
“Parking is terrible by Rite-Aid,” said Council President Anita Zalom, who said Police Chief Colin Grant is working on the issue.
The town hopes to collect a full list of businesses interested in time limits before they can be reviewed by the town, submitted to the state and changed in the ordinance.
“We will not do it on an individual basis because we have to open to ordinance and re-draft it,” said LaCicero. “There’s no set time when we’re going to do that, but if we get enough requests we can reopen it.”
LaCicero said one thing is for sure: the process will not be completed overnight and time limits will not be in place by the end of summer 2019.
