By DON STINE
Almost 100 new parking spaces will be created in Ocean Grove by Memorial Day weekend after the Neptune Township Committee approved creating them at this week’s Township Committee meeting.
The governing body was acting on recommendations presented by the ad hoc Ocean Grove Parking Task Force which was established last year and charged with creating more parking, especially in the crowded summer months in the historic district.
The proposals to be enacted include creating angled parking on the west side of Central Avenue, from Heck to Webb Avenues, and angled parking on the north side of Main Avenue, from New Jersey Avenue to as close to Lawrence Avenue as feasible
The report also recommends the township analyze if angled parking is feasible on the west side of Central Avenue from Main to Heck Avenues. It was also suggested officials check into the width allowed on commercial vehicles (now eight feet) parking on streets.
“We are going to move forward with these recommendations and I think the task force did a good job,” said Deputy Mayor Nick Williams, who is a member of the parking task force.
He said that these actions will create less than 100 additional parking spaces but added that any additional parking in Ocean Grove is a good thing. Since the parking changes do not need any county or state approvals, township officials said the changes should in place by this coming Memorial Day weekend.
“This is a great start but I hope to think this is the beginning and not the end (of the parking study),” said resident Joyce Klein, who is also a member of the parking task force.
Mayor Michael Brantley assured her that “this is not the end of the issue.”
“We haven’t closed the door and are constantly looking at it,” he said.
The Chamber of Commerce is also recommending that parking in the Main Avenue business district, from Central to New York avenues, be limited to three hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May 15 through Sept. 15, although no action has been taken on this proposal.
Other residents suggested creating permit parking for residents and business owners or charging for parking along Ocean Avenue.
