East Rockhill Township News.
Tempers flared at the July 23rd East Rockhill Board of Supervisors meeting over a plan to enforce a street parking ban on sections of several township streets, including Blue Rock Drive, Boulder Drive, Ridge Run Road and Stone Edge Road.
The ban was originally instituted in 2000 but has never been enforced. Recent complaints about traffic and pedestrian safety prompted the township to send a letter to residents about the parking ban prior to any possible parking ticket enforcement. The letter also advises residents to notify the township at least one week in advance of an occasion where guests may be parking on the street.
Several residents expressed frustration at the letter, characterizing it as vague, burdensome and unnecessary.
“How could parking in front of my house affect anyone’s safety?” asked Alicia Herbert of Blue Rock Drive, adding, “My boys also play basketball in my driveway. They can’t play it anymore. Where do I put my cars?”
“Who knows always a week in advance when someone’s gonna drop by your house and need to park in the street?” asked a Ridge Run Road resident. “So now if you’re having company, you need to be worried if their car is gonna be ticketed?”
“The more you get the cars off the road, the less safe it is, because people are just gonna drive faster. The cars create an obstacle,” said another Ridge Run Road resident. “Speed bumps are probably the best solution.”
But other residents endorsed the parking ban, raising concerns about pedestrian safety and traffic congestion.
“We don’t have sidewalks. We need to be looking at safety over inconvenience. We have to change what we do before some kid gets hit,” said Chuck Weaver of Ridge Run Road. “Parking is less important than somebody getting hurt.”
“All we’re asking for is some courtesy. Just walk across the street and say, ‘We’re gonna have a bunch of people over,'” said a Boulder Drive resident. “Just don’t block my driveway.”
Following the residents’ comments, Pennridge Police Chief Paul Dickinson clarified that the letter was aimed at preventing parking ticket enforcement and committed to working with affected residents to avoid ticketing.
“We are not gonna drive through your development and write parking tickets,” said Dickinson. “The majority of the time, we will speak with you and ask if you could possibly move the vehicles off the road. We will work with you the best we can.”
“We’re not looking to cause a hardship,” added Township Manager Marianne Morano. “We’re trying to address concerns and still work with everybody as much as possible. I just wouldn’t want to see anyone getting tickets if they didn’t need to. To me, that’s more upsetting than a letter.”
The board concurred, reiterating resident concerns about safety hazards and promising to balance resident safety and convenience.
“We’re trying to work on health and safety as well as your convenience,” said Supervisor Dave Nyman. “There has been no parking on that street, and we’ve never done anything to enforce that until we were asked by residents of Ridge Run to do that.”
“In general, the township does not go out looking for ordinance violations,” said Supervisor Jim Nietupski. “We’re gonna try to work this out so everybody is OK.”
The next East Rockhill Board of Supervisors meeting is on August 27 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit eastrockhilltownship.org.
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