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Spring Lake Heights council adopts temporary parking restrictions on Jersey Avenue after resident objections
Summary
The borough council adopted Ordinance 2026-09 on June 1, 2026, establishing temporary parking restrictions on Jersey Avenue as a test measure after a public hearing in which a resident urged a traffic study; the vote was unanimous among the five members present.
The Spring Lake Heights Borough Council voted unanimously on June 1, 2026 to adopt Ordinance 2026-09, imposing temporary parking restrictions on Jersey Avenue intended as a time-limited test to address repeated complaints about parking that impede emergency vehicle access. Council President William Graetz presided over the hearing and the motion to adopt passed with five affirmative votes; Councilman Leonard Capristo was recorded absent.
Resident John Hanlon of 801 Jersey Avenue opposed the ordinance during the public hearing, saying it would “push traffic down the street further” and arguing the change “just makes it someone else's problem.” Hanlon asked the council to commission a traffic analysis before implementing broad restrictions and offered to provide photographic evidence of parking issues.
Police Chief Ed Gunnell told the council the ordinance includes an end date to allow officials to evaluate whether the restriction solves the problem or whether an alternate solution is needed. "Jersey Avenue was selected as a test street due to the constant complaints there," Chief Gunnell said and invited residents to discuss specific concerns with his office.
Councilwoman Michele Degnan-Spang said her own experience on nearby streets informed her support for trying a time-limited restriction, while resident Amy Graetz told the council that some street-parking pressure comes from residents not using their driveways and from short-term contractor and delivery parking.
The ordinance will be enforced as written and reviewed after the test period to determine next steps; the council did not set a specific follow-up date in the hearing record. The ordinance took effect upon adoption.
