By DON STINE
Ocean Township will add about 70 more parking spaces to its municipal parking lot to alleviate overcrowding for municipal court and various other township meetings.
“We have court twice a week and the lot can become full. Many times there is not enough parking for some meetings and people park across the street (at the old Monmouth Council Boy Scouts of America building across Deal Road). And this can become a real safety issue,” Township Administrator Andrew Brannen said.
The Township Council approved a $120,000 bond to purchase almost half-acre lot, to the north of the existing parking lot, from neighboring Congregation Torat El. The municipal building is at the intersection of Deal and Monmouth roads.
Improvements to the new lot will be paid for through a $1.2 million bond ordinance for the township’s 2015 road program.
Brannen said the entire parking lot will now be reconfigured with parking for police closer to the police station and with designated employee parking.
“This will be separated from the general parking area,” he said.
An existing driveway on the eastern side of the parking lot will be realigned directly across from Sherman Avenue.
“So it will be a straight shot across for motorists,” Brannen said.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
