Credit: Jenkintown Borough
A vote to enact an ordinance permitting paid parking on residential streets near the business district was tabled following a continual outcry by residents at Jenkintown Council’s March 26 meeting.
More than a dozen residents spoke out against changes to the borough’s parking regulations prior to the motion to table the vote, which passed 8-2, with two council members absent.
The ordinance will next be discussed, with possible alterations, at either council’s April planning commission or workshop meeting, Borough Manager George Locke said in an email March 27.
The changes proposed would set up 10-hour limited Parking Payment Zones on all or parts of eight residential streets: Leedom, Hillside, West, Johnson, Greenwood, Cottman, Summit and Willow, and 3-hour limited Parking Payment Zones on parts of West, Leedom and Cedar. In addition, metered parking in the two borough municipal lots on Leedom and Greenwood would have a 10-hour limit.
Metered parking, via a Park Mobile app already used at the borough lots, would be 50 cents per hour enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Passes on a monthly or annual basis permitting parking on any street with a 10-hour Parking Payment Zone and the borough lots during the same time periods would also be available, with fees set by Borough Council.
Current rules allowing residents of the Parking Permit Zone streets to obtain yearly permits for up to two vehicles — one for those with off-street parking — will not change. Residents may also apply for one temporary parking permit for visitors, family members and healthcare providers.
Why the Change
Stating the existing parking ordinance was “antiquated, inconsistent and did not provide enforceable regulations,” Borough Manager George Locke said in an email, the ordinance rewrite “was done with the current and future parking needs of the borough in mind.”
Among reasons for the changes he listed were: streets with 3-hour parking and vehicles overstaying the allowable time or parking without a permit were not easily enforced; several businesses requested utilizing unused parking on streets adjacent to the business district during daytime hours; there was no way to tell when a car arrived in a 3-hour parking zone without charging; and current permit parking hours did not allow for guests to visit residents once the permit time started.
Several apartments and retail spaces vacant for a long time are being remodeled and will have tenants in the near future compounding the current parking configuration, Locke said.
The process started in June 2024 when two new part-time enforcement officers were hired and “inconsistencies, loopholes and allowances” not in the regulations were identified, police Chief Tom Scott said in an email.
The enforcement team, police and borough administrations started working on amending the ordinance and two public meetings were held, after which a draft ordinance was presented to council. It was tabled last month for further discussion, a public meeting was held March 12, and council approved readvertising it with minor adjustments, he said.
At a July meeting, Scott said more discussion was needed to let businesses have places to park. The modernization of the borough created a significant parking issue, he said, and how and when to enforce parking was a major issue.
“The ordinance was developed to be fair and reasonable to the residents and the businesses in the borough,” Scott said in the email. Council has said it “would analyze and adjust if needed in six months.”
Residents Object
Residents were not convinced it would be to their benefit and urged council members to either vote no or table the ordinance for further discussion.
“A lot of concerns need to be aired,” said Joan Broderick of the 500 block of Willow Street. “I don’t want [Park Mobile] green signs designating us as a public parking lot,” she said, contending they would have a negative impact on property values.
“One hundred percent of the block is against it,” another resident of the 500 block of Willow said. “There is plenty of parking for shoppers. They’re not coming to our block to shop.”
Elderly residents and those with infants need immediate access to their vehicles, said Darian Davis of the 300 block of Cottman Street.
“Parking is available nearby,” he said. “We don’t want metered parking on the street at all.”
Commenting after the vote, Davis said, “There’s an opportunity to come together with residents and businesses to work on solutions.” Possibilities, he suggested, would be giving permits to businesses employees, have “any streets purely residential remain that way,” and a long-term opportunity to build a new town hall with a parking area.
Several residents said the borough should conduct a parking study before making any changes and come up with a unified rather than piecemeal plan.
“We need a parking study,” said Mary Kroll of the 400 block of Cedar, adding there are 14 houses on her block without driveways. “My family has three cars; my husband will have to pay a meter,” while non-residents will be able to buy a permit to park there.
“Each block is different; we can’t have a one-size fits all,” Joy Stevens of the 400 block of Cedar said, asking a study be done.
The three parking lots in the borough “are rarely near capacity,” Jenkintown resident Mary Jane Riley said. “We should build up the business district and create a need for parking. Without parking studies you’re saying we need more parking.”
The rationale for the ordinance keeps changing, Bill Fraser of the 400 block of Cedar, said. In January, residents were told it would improve enforcement for residents, but at the July council meeting the police chief said changes were needed for businesses.
Parking permits are limited to two per household, “yet they’re opening it up to anyone to pay for a long-term pass for up to a year. Why do that unless it’s for business owners and their employees,” he said prior to the meeting.
“Why sell out the few spaces we did have to other folks?” he asked the council members, adding if the ordinance passed, “we will look to live elsewhere.”
“It increases congestion where parking is already too tight,” Alison Fraser said. “You limited permits and then turn around and offer 10-hour parking. We would love to sit down and talk about parking.”
“The reason we have permit parking for residents is because the streets are very congested,” she said before the meeting. “A lot of the blocks where residents are concerned [about the changes] have limited off-street parking. Every block is unique.”
“The main drawback is advertising to people who live outside our community there is parking available for everybody; it’s difficult now,” Jeff DuVilla, a resident of the 400 block of Cedar with two small children, said before the meeting.
“They want to modify enforcement,” but there is no enforcement for Park Mobile after 6 p.m., so cars can stay parked all night, he said.
Noting there was a decrease in tax revenues during Covid when businesses in town shut down and some left, Kathy Judge, of the 700 block of West Avenue, expressed another view, saying, “The business district supports the town. We have to share. Without the school district, all our property values will tank.”
Board Reaction
“I understand there is limited parking on small residential streets adjacent to the town center … we are trying to make space for residents and businesses to find parking,” Councilwoman Deborra Sines-Pancoe said. “In its [the ordinance] current form, there are some parts that need to change, but I do support using Park Mobile. It’s the only way we can enforce some limitations we need to place on parking.”
Council Vice President Christian Soltysiak, who offered a motion to pass the ordinance and voted against tabling it, said she would be okay with moving the 10-hour limit to three hours.
“The decisions I believe are in the best interest of the borough as a whole,” said Council President Jay Conners, who also voted against tabling the ordinance. “It’s important to make decisions on how they affect the whole town. If you want businesses to thrive, we have to update parking. An outdated and unenforceable ordinance helps no one.”
“I think there’s an opportunity to work together — to get it right and build trust between council and the community,” Councilwoman Aliza Narva said.
“The idea that we will revitalize our business district because of parking, I’m not buying that,” said Councilwoman Alexandria Khalil who made the motion to table.
By using Park Mobile the borough would be able to obtain data on parking, Councilman David Ballard said, suggesting the ordinance could be a starting point “to work toward a better solution.”
“No one is willing to have any type of change and there has to be,” Councilman Alex Bartlett said. “I see both sides.”
“We have to get more buy-in from the residents, said Narva, suggesting a working group be created. “I urge you not to make some tweaks and think that will solve the underlying problem.”
Soltysiak asked for “an open-minded conversation next month when it is discussed” further, adding, “Change is going to happen.”
