Residents urge Hamilton to restrict parking on Sandon Boulevard after overflow from Red Oak Apartments and local gas station

Residents of the first blocks of Sandon Boulevard and Lillian Avenue told the Hamilton Township Council on July 15 that commercial parking overflow from Red Oak Apartments and a nearby gas station has left homeowners without reasonable access to street parking, and they asked the council to adopt resident‑only parking restrictions for the blocks.

Jennifer Verdi, who said she represents homeowners on both blocks, described years of escalating neighborhood parking pressure and provided photographs to the township. “It is not an unreasonable expectation for homeowners and residents who are solely responsible for the taxes and maintenances of their respective properties to be able to park in front of their own homes,” Verdi said during public comment.

Verdi told the council that Red Oak Apartments has approximately 175 rental units but only about 115 parking spaces, and that a change in property management has led to more vehicles spilling onto adjacent residential streets. She also described a convenience store and garage bays at a gas station she identified as US Gas, saying employees and mechanics frequently use public streets as overflow parking and that some vehicles have been left on the street “literally for weeks or months.”

Director Fred Dumont told the council the township has been working on code enforcement. “With the gas station, that time period expired this morning, and we issued that gas station a summons to appear in court,” Dumont said; he said the gas station is scheduled to be in court on June 30 to address violations. On the larger apartment parking issue, Dumont said the township has issued notices of violations to Red Oak and is continuing enforcement, but that the apartment’s original approval granted the limited on‑site parking now in dispute.

Dumont and council members explained that establishing resident‑only parking is a regulatory process that typically requires a traffic/parking study and approval from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for certain restrictions and signage. Dumont said staff would assemble a process and that the township would work with residents to develop a plan. Verdi told the council she and neighbors have proposed issuing resident parking permits with proof of residency and two guest permits per household; she said she would fund initial permit costs.

Council members and staff pledged further follow up. The council did not adopt an immediate parking ordinance at the meeting; instead staff were directed to prepare the study and a proposed process looking at resident‑permit options and the DOT requirements. The record shows the township is pursuing enforcement actions against the gas station and continuing code enforcement with the Red Oak Apartments property owner as part of an ongoing compliance effort.

The case highlights the tradeoffs of resident‑only parking: council members noted that a restricted permit zone would affect guests and gatherings and requires a thorough study of available curb space and traffic flow. The council asked staff to return with recommended next steps, including a study scope and any necessary petitions to state agencies.