Northville council advances first reading to rescind Sunday parking allowance on Chestnut Street

The Borough of Northville advanced a first reading of an ordinance to rescind a temporary allowance permitting Sunday parking on Chestnut Street, the mayor and council said during a regularly scheduled combined meeting.

The measure, proposed after about 13 months of observation and resident feedback, would return Chestnut Street to its previous parking restrictions. Councilor Sokolowski moved to advance the ordinance, which Councilor McKellen seconded; the council conducted a roll-call first reading and set a public hearing for the 10th (month not specified).

Why it matters: neighbors and a nearby church brought safety and traffic concerns to councilors during the past year, citing situations where parked cars and missing sidewalks created dangers for pedestrians, including children walking to nearby school properties.

At the public comment segment, Chris Bombino of 23 Rockwood Avenue thanked the council and said the change was the right one for residents and the church. “You really did the right thing,” Bombino said, urging the borough to monitor how the change works in practice. Council staff told Bombino and others that, after the ordinance passes its second reading, signs can be changed and enforcement can begin (staff said signs could start to change on the 11th).

The ordinance is at first-reading status; it will return for a second reading and public hearing as scheduled. No final adoption was recorded at the meeting.

Procedural details: the ordinance was advanced by motion and second; the council carried the first‑reading roll call with the attending councilors answering in the affirmative. The clerk will publish final hearing notice and take public comment at the scheduled hearing.

Next steps: the council will hold the announced public hearing on the 10th and, if adopted at second reading, staff will implement the change and remove or replace signage per the borough’s timetable.