Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Concerns topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents ask how Parker Avenue bike lanes will affect driveways, school drop‑offs, leaves and snow
Summary
Multiple Parker Avenue residents raised practical concerns at the March 10 meeting about driveway visibility, school drop-off logistics (DeLuca said curbside drop-off would become a no‑drop‑off zone near CHS), leaf collection and snowplowing in bike lanes, and potential spillover parking. Staff said maintenance equipment can clean behind bollards and that parking permits could be used if necessary.
Several residents who live directly on Parker Avenue told the township they support safety improvements in principle but worry the proposed lane changes could create daily operational challenges. Rosemary, a long‑time resident, said losing the ability to park in front of her house would be a "huge inconvenience" and related a recent collision she said involved a motorized bike; she asked who would patrol noncompliant cyclists. DeLuca replied that existing enforcement is limited but the plan includes engineering changes to reduce risk and that the committee will continue to weigh community input.
Speakers representing a preschool at the Maplewood Jewish Center raised specific concerns about queuing for kindergarten drop‑offs and where parents would line up; Frumie (representing 600 feet of property including the center) asked whether parents would be allowed to pull to the curb and DeLuca said "it's going to be a no drop off zone" in that segment and that the committee will discuss alternate drop‑off plans. On leaves and snow, DeLuca said curbside leaf collection rules remain the same and the township has small plows and vacuums that can operate behind bollards; Kittner added that many storm inlets already use bicycle‑safe grates from prior municipal projects.
