Parking for Morristown High students continues to challenge neighbors and officials

Town officials and residents met in October 2016 to discuss the Morristown High School parking situation.
Town officials and residents met in October 2016 to discuss the Morristown High School parking situation.
4
Residents, parents and officials discuss the Morristown High School parking situation, Oct. 5, 2016. Photo by Brian LaMuraglia.
Residents, parents and officials discuss the Morristown High School parking situation, Oct. 5, 2016. Photo by Brian LaMuraglia.

By Brian LaMuraglia

The struggle between students and residents over student parking around Morristown High School continues, after a meeting Wednesday with town officials.

“As we do in every neighborhood, we try to find solutions. We think we are headed in the right direction to help alleviate the pressure at the school,” Mayor Tim Dougherty said at a two-hour session at town hall attend by about 21 parents, students and residents.

The mayor conceded that a town plan for student permits “does not solve the problem of parking with the students,” and he advised both sides to raise their concerns with school officials, who did not attend the meeting.

The town’s proposed plan to increase student parking is to remove two-hour parking restrictions and create permit parking for students and residents at Atno Avenue, Clinton Street, Colonial Road, Early Street, Hazlett Street, Kenmuir Avenue, and Mills Street from Washington to Kenmuir and Milton place.

Only 50 student permits will be issued, with a maximum of five students per street.  School officials estimate that 300 seniors drive to school.

image
The streets where students will gain access to park. Photo by Brian LaMuraglia

The tone of Wednesday’s gathering was confrontational at times, but all sides agreed that an answer must be found.

A few residents complained that students were speeding through their neighborhoods, leaving trash behind and no space for guest parking.

Another issue: What will happen in winter, when streets like Clinton are snow-covered when students arrive to park at 7 am?

A proposed solution was to look at other streets within the school’s radius.

“I feel positive that all voices are being heard and we are moving into a position that takes many interests in mind,” said Douglas Vorolieff of Kenmuir Avenue.

Extra parking spots could spare students from having to arrive at school an hour early to find a space, or from walking home in the snow. Driving to school also enables them to stay late for extracurricular activities, after school buses leave, or to go to jobs. And working parents don’t have to juggle their schedules to fetch their kids from school.

Some students don’t have the option of school buses, noted senior Nicole Amelio of Morris Township.

“Some of the things people said were selfish and they were worried about themselves,” she said after the meeting.

The Morris School District does not supply late buses for students. Senior Chelsea Simao of Lake Road in Morristown said busing is not an option for her because she does not live far enough from school.

Discounted parking at the Dalton garage, about a block from school, has been offered to students by the Morristown Parking Authority. There have been few takers, however.

Council President Stefan Armington and Business Administrator Jillian Barrick attended the informal meeting, which was the second special session on high school parking since June.

4 COMMENTS

  1. It is up to the town to seek a solution to this parking issue. But also others like the school and parents of the students.
    The school district keeps expanding the high school, just like Atlantic Health medical keeps doing on Madison Ave. It seems like parking plans are overlooked.
    Moving forward the town needs to create a “Master plan” for public. and private parking. failure to do so has allowed too much building in dense areas.
    What is going to happen when they build two more large housing projects on Early St? 500 units?
    There is no subway system in Morristown, people walk or use cars.
    Full time students should be allowed to park near the public school. What are they learning about the public good and use of community roads? Sharing of parking is good public policy.
    Morristown is no longer a sleepy little town. It is evolving into a small city.
    ‘Car pooling” is another alternative. Maybe allow car poolers to could get spots near the school ?
    Some newer high schools in New Jersey have large parking lots for students. Morristown is not afforded the option of open lands for that use.
    Best solution is to keep a positive atmosphere, keep everybody in the loop, keep talking and giving feedback.
    If I was the mayor I would ask each and everyone of the student parkers to write me a letter ,outlining what they thought is a best solution. Along with the parents. This would allow all ideas to be heard.
    Nice to see they are meeting. That is always a good step.
    But action ,needs to be taken.

  2. Brett, I agree with you. I do not understand allowing junior drivers to dictate parking in residential neighborhoods. Most of the neighborhoods around the town have meters, restricted residential parking or a 2-hour limit during school hours. Either you open up all these streets if the town believes that parking is public domain or that students are entitled to parking, or you put these restrictions on all streets and the drivers need to adhere to them. This is now a safety issue because I have seen drivers parked so far from the curb that a garbage truck could not get through. If there was an emergency, then an ambulance or a fire truck could not get through. The leaf pickup will also be a challenge.

  3. What’s wrong with the proposed solution of discount parking at the Dalton garage? It seems like that solution keeps the residents happy and allows for the concern raised about plowing the snow covered streets. I’m sure the students would appreciate free and convenient parking but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be readily available. Sometimes one needs to pay, as in this case for parking convenience.

  4. Where can guests at Modera 44 park then if they remove all those 2-hour space and make it permit parking? How is that fair?

LEAVE A REPLY