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After hours of public comment, Fairhaven council advances 3‑hour school‑day parking plan for review
Summary
After a multi‑hour workshop and detailed public comment from dozens of residents, Fairhaven council introduced an ordinance to impose 3‑hour parking limits on specified streets during school days and agreed to proceed to formal introduction so rules can be in place before the school year.
Council opened a workshop on a proposed amendment to borough code to restrict parking on several streets during school days. Police and traffic staff explained the proposal — primarily a three‑hour limit during school hours on streets including Cambridge Avenue, Harvard Road, Princeton Road, Rutgers Drive and Oxford Avenue — as a targeted response to student parking, drop‑off congestion and safety concerns.
The meeting drew extensive public comment from residents who live on affected streets. Speakers urged different approaches: some favored a resident‑permit system to protect locals, others recommended a shorter two‑hour window or exemptions for driveway work. Several residents also urged additional traffic calming and more active enforcement at dismissal times. The chief and council framed the ordinance as a starting point: the municipal prosecutor advised that formal signage is not strictly required if the ordinance is advertised but signs would be used as a courtesy. Council voted to introduce Ordinance 2026‑11 and requested periodic reviews after implementation. "We thought this was the best solution," Mayor Josh Halpern said, adding the ordinance is a “living, breathing document” that can be revised after the school year begins.
Councilmembers signaled they wanted the ordinance in place before school starts and asked staff to prepare introduction and adoption steps (possible special meeting) and an outreach plan to let residents know the new rules and enforcement approach.
