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Resident urges removal of Chestnut Street parking rule after repeated Sunday violations
Summary
A Northvale resident presented video evidence at the borough mayor-and-council meeting saying members of a local church repeatedly violated a 2024 parking ordinance, urged moving long-term parking to Oak Street and asked the council to restore the prior no-parking status on Chestnut Street.
CHRIS BOMBINO, a Northvale resident, told the mayor and council he has repeatedly documented parking violations and curbside pickups on Chestnut Street that he said began or increased after Ordinance 19-03-2024 took effect in October 2024. "I am not the only one that's upset about the parking," Bombino said, and he said he would continue to report infractions to the borough and the police chief.
Bombino described multiple incidents he recorded on May 25, June 1 and June 8, including vehicles stopping in a no-parking zone near a fire hydrant and partial incursions into private driveways. He said one officer made repeated patrols on June 1 but several violations still occurred when officers were not present. "While I greatly appreciate the presence of our police officers on Sundays, I hope this council realizes ... it is not the best use of police time to babysit the [church] traffic on Chestnut Street on Sundays," Bombino said.
The resident asked the council to rescind the Chestnut Street parking allowance created by Ordinance 19-03-2024 and to relocate permitted church parking to Oak Street, which he said has curb and sidewalk access he believes is safer. He proposed using an electronic notice sign and Sunday reminders during a transition period to push congregants to the alternate lot. Councilmembers and staff discussed Oak Street's existing curb/sidewalk layout and whether shifting parking there would produce bidirectional traffic issues and a longer walk for some attendees.
Councilmembers asked Bombino clarifying questions during the public comment period; council members acknowledged a transition would likely require public messaging and some enforcement while drivers change patterns. No formal action or vote to rescind the ordinance was recorded during the meeting.
Bombino told the council he would continue to document violations and appear monthly until the parking is removed from Chestnut Street. The council did not set a follow-up date or direct staff to prepare an ordinance rescinding 19-03-2024 during the meeting.
