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Resident renews complaints about church parking on Chestnut Street; council, police discuss alternatives
Summary
A Northvale resident told the mayor and council that members of a local church repeatedly parked in no-parking zones on Chestnut Street and, he said, ignored police warnings; residents and police discussed Oak Street as alternate parking and possible signage changes.
A Northvale resident, identifying himself as Chris Bombino of 123 Rockland Avenue, used public comment at Tuesday—s Mayor and Council meeting to renew long-standing complaints about parking and brief stopping by members of a nearby church on Chestnut Street.
Bombino described an incident on March 30 in which he recorded a vehicle stopped between no-parking cones near a fire hydrant and said other vehicles then pulled into the restricted area while an officer watched. He told the council he showed video to Officer Murphy and later emailed Chief Ostroff to request further review. Bombino said the congregation—s members have repeatedly ignored posted no-parking signs and cones and that, after a period when the church agreed to address problems, the violations resumed.
"Hope—s not a plan," Bombino said, warning he would resume surveillance of Sundays and report any vehicles that stood or parked in no-parking zones or in front of fire hydrants. He said he would email the council each Sunday he observed violations and planned to appear at future meetings until he sees parking restored to the street.
Other residents raised related questions at the meeting. Kensha Ballen said she had spoken to Chief Federici and was told that, although signs read "no parking" on the north side of Oak Street, in practice the borough does not ticket Sunday parking there; she suggested changing signage if Oak Street is to be marketed as an alternate. Bombino and residents pointed out Oak Street provides continuous sidewalks and unused daytime parking near the church and urged the council to press church leadership to use that area.
Council members directed staff and police to review the Oak Street signage and encouraged continued communication with church leaders; no formal enforcement action or ordinance amendment was taken at the meeting. Chief Ostroff (as referenced by residents) was said to have reviewed the incidents and indicated warnings have been given and that the borough—s police may move from warnings to issuing tickets if violations continue.
Bombino asked councilmembers to speak with church leaders and to enforce parking restrictions; the council acknowledged the complaint and said it would investigate signage and enforcement options.
