West Deer tables proposed parking ordinance

The West Deer Supervisors on Wednesday tabled an ordinance prohibiting parking on certain township streets in order to re-evaluate language and procedure.

Supervisors last month approved advertising the ordinance, which was drafted to address safety hazards in the township’s Cedar Ridge; Grouse Run; Fawn Haven II and III; Oakwood Circle; Deer Park; and Stonecrest housing plans.

Officials have said emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and snow plows have trouble getting through the housing plans because of vehicles parked on the streets.

“This is not geared toward non on-street parking because that’s just the aesthetic of the neighborhood,” Supervisors Chairman Arlind Karpuzi said. “This is for public safety.”

Supervisor Bev Jordan wants the problem fixed, but doesn’t like the language used in the ordinance, which would fine people $15 each time they park on the street in those housing plans without permission from police Chief Jon Lape.

The ordinance says Lape can make exceptions for things such as parties or gatherings “upon the advance request of a Township resident” who lives in one of those housing plans.

Jordan asked if the language could be updated to say residents would be responsible for notifying the township if they or any guests planned to park on the street. Jordan believes there is a difference between notifying someone and asking someone for permission.

“If someone is having a party, I don’t think they should have to wait to have permission from another person. I think having them notify us would certainly do the trick,” Jordan said. “Then if there’s an issue, then the police or whoever can go out. I just don’t like that language at all.”

Township Solicitor Gavin Robb said using the word notification could hamper the township’s ability to say no.

“If someone says, ‘I’m notifying you that there’s going to be 10 people parking around my house on the streets and it’s going to be for about a week,’ and we don’t have the authority to say no just because they notified us that it was happening, then I think you sort of take the teeth out of it,” Robb said.

Township Manager Dan Mator said advance notice could help prevent people from gaming the system.

Mator said a resident could see the police coming down the street or about to ticket them, and quickly send a notification to the township saying they or a guest is parked on the street.

“I know it might sound like a drastic example, but I think that’s what the chief is getting at when he’s talking about advance notice,” Mator said.

Officials also discussed options the township could use to allow people to request permission to park on the streets, including email, submitting a form online, or having a dedicated line that could receive text messages.

Lape previously suggested residents call 911 during off hours to let police know they or a guest would be parking on the street. Supervisors said residents may not be comfortable calling 911 in non-emergency situations.

Supervisors voted 5-0 to table voting to adopt the ordinance until February.

“I’ll be honest with everybody here. I’m not comfortable with this ordinance as it is if the board’s not happy with it,” Mator said. “If we have to start over on this we can start over on this. I don’t know the language that anybody is really asking for.”