Residents urge Linden to address parking pressure and recycling pickup during public comment

Several Linden residents used the Dec. 17 public-comment period to raise neighborhood quality-of-life concerns, chiefly on-street parking pressure tied to new development and inadequate recycling collection at condominium properties.

Craig Halloran of 120 Donaldson Place urged the city to step up traffic-division enforcement and consider slowing or studying certain large apartment or condominium developments that he said would add parking demand to already crowded streets. "Another way to deal with the parking is take a moment and slow down on some of the development of especially of the larger apartment buildings or condo buildings that are going up," Halloran said.

Daryl Sadler, a resident of Parkland Condominiums at 104 East Elizabeth, asked whether cardboard and paper are being picked up routinely, saying recycling containers were overflowing at his complex. He also raised a separate public-safety question about leash rules when a neighbor's pit bull was not leashed. City officials and staff advised residents of options: council members and staff pointed to a city recycling center on Donaldson Place that accepts cardboard and commingled recycling (weekday and Saturday hours were noted) and suggested residents contact Public Works or arrange special pickups when needed. A staff member named Dave Martinez was identified in the meeting as the assistant superintendent of Public Works and was recommended as a contact for scheduling special pickups.

Council members acknowledged the concerns and provided contact information for Public Works and for staff who can assist with special collections. The council did not take further formal action during the meeting on the items raised; residents were encouraged to follow up with the Department of Public Works.