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Residents urge council to drop full east‑side parking ban on Lambert Street; council tables ordinance for more study
Summary
Residents sharply opposed an ordinance to ban parking on the east side of Lambert Street, arguing it would displace year‑round residents during school events and create safety and enforcement problems; council agreed to table the measure and ask staff to explore resident‑only permits and use of town right‑of‑way.
Dozens of residents told the Pompton Lakes Borough Council on Sept. 10 that a proposed ordinance to limit parking on one side of Lambert Street would unfairly punish people who live on the dead‑end street.
"If this ordinance passes, I lose the ability to park at my own home," said Greg McClure of 4 Lambert Street, who urged the council to use town right‑of‑way to widen the street rather than remove resident parking. "Taking away one whole side of the street means residents like me ... will be forced to park farther away while visitors get the closest parking. That is completely backwards."
Ben Lewin of 403 Lakeside Avenue said he supported measures to improve emergency access but asked how enforcement would work and whether front‑in (head‑in) parking could increase capacity. Edward Kuhn, who said he has lived on the street his whole life, echoed McClure and urged the council to provide compensating spaces if the ban proceeds.
The council cited safety concerns and said traffic bureau studies and prior chief recommendations prompted the one‑side proposal. Police Chief (S8) told the council the traffic bureau found situations where, "two vehicles on both sides of the curve ... we would have some vehicle to be possibly getting either an ambulance and or fire equipment down that street," and that a one‑side rule was suggested to improve emergency access.
Rather than vote on the ordinance on Sept. 10, the council agreed to table the item for further review and community input. Mayor (S2) said staff will examine whether resident‑only parking, physical widening using town right‑of‑way, or alternative enforcement schemes could address access concerns while preserving resident parking. The council asked the administrator and police to return with more precise enforcement language, feasibility of resident‑only permits and any engineering options for adding parking without removing existing resident spaces.
Next steps: the ordinance will be returned to the agenda after traffic, zoning and engineering follow‑up; council members encouraged residents to check the borough website for updates and future public comment opportunities.
