Harris Township approves limited on‑street parking on east side of Deering Drive after public hearing

The Harris Township Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to adopt Ordinance 377, allowing on‑street parking on the east side of Deering Drive in a limited configuration.

The board introduced the ordinance at its Oct. 13 meeting after staff told supervisors that township traffic engineer Rob Watts estimated as many as 10 parking spaces could be added on the east side without violating sight‑distance limits. Staff noted PennDOT requires parking be kept at least 35 feet back from intersections.

Residents gave mixed testimony during the public hearing. Leslie Asbury, who said she lives at 130 Deering Drive, urged the board to permit parking to improve access to homes and the community center, saying, “There’s only 2 places for visitor parking, and 1 of them is parked directly in front of the entrance,” and that lack of nearby parking limits use of the community center. Other residents, including Jeff and Marlene Stetson (comments read by staff), expressed safety and precedent concerns and said support among Springfield Commons homeowners was limited.

Board members debated whether the change would create a slippery slope for other streets and weighed the traffic‑engineer’s finding that permitting parking on the east side would not infringe on required sight distances. After discussion, a motion to approve the ordinance carried.

The ordinance amends the township code to permit on‑street parking on the east side of Deering Drive while maintaining the existing restrictions on the west side; staff referenced a map included in the meeting packet showing the permitted parking zones. The board relied on the traffic engineer’s review and PennDOT setback guidance in its decision.

The change is limited in scope and intended to add street parking where driveway access is constrained; the township advised residents that specific parking locations and enforcement details will be posted once the ordinance is implemented.