Council Amends, Then Oks Decree to Build Deck, Decks H> PAH.J.PEYTON Mcdermott Broke a 4-4 Deadlock
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ISPS MMM20 Ol K 11 Ith YEAR - ISSUE NO. 37-111 Thursday, May 24. IIHli Published tsrrs Ihursdas Periodical - Postage Paid al « cMfU ld. NJ. Sinn' IHKI (908) 232-4407 FIFTY ( ENTS Council Amends, Then OKs Decree to Build Deck, Decks H> PAH.J.PEYTON McDermott broke a 4-4 deadlock. more spaces. Specially tonne* foe The W rtifaU l code • The ordinance on Tuesday was Councilman Sullivan said four of After hearing arguments over the passed following an amendment by the 11 so-called "parking principals." Course of four and a half hours, both Third Ward Councilman Neil F. approved last summer by the coun pro and con. ihe Town Council unani Sullivan, who chairs the Transporta cil, have been implemented to date. mously passed an ordinance Tues tion. Parking and Traffic Commit He said the town anticipates that the day night setting up a funding source tee, which changed the ordinance to valet parking and jitney service will of $700,000 for the design, construc reflect the possibility of building not be up and running by the fall. tion management and related profes- just one deck, as included in the Town Administrator Thomas B. iional serv ices for the building of a original ordinance, but two decks. Shannon announced that interviews parking deck or decks in the down- In addition, the document reflects among the remaining eight candi tow n that funds can be spent on other dates for (he newly created position " The vote occurred at I a.m. means of improving the parking situ of parking manager will he conducted Wednesday following comments ation within the town. the week of Monday, June 11, with a from residents which began at 8:30 These .include a commuter jitney recommendation made to Mayor p.m The ordinance on the council's service, a valet parking system at the McDermott and the council by the agenda was identical to one defeated South Avenue train station lot and end of that week. on first reading just two weeks ear reconfiguration of the "horseshoe" Mayor McDermott told The lier in a 5-4 vote. Mayor Gregory S. area o f the South Avenue lot to add Westfield Leader that he envisions this person moving all the parking projects forward, including the hir ing of a consultant to design the Full-Day Vo-Tech parking deck or decks by July. Fourth Ward Councilman Lawrence A. Goldman, in sup|x>rt- ing construction of a deck, said, Program Concerns 'There is never going to he a perfect Fred K Leconita lor The Westfield Leader location" to construct a parking fa READY TO PLAY...The Second (iarden .State Open Table Tennis Tournament was held in the Westfield National (>uard cility. Armory last Saturday and Sunday. Sponsored by “Idly Yip Sports, Inc.,” participants included 10 players from the North Local School Districts With over 35 persons speaking at Jersey Developmental ( enter. The event helped prepare for the Special Olympic Summer Oames to he held from Friday c o n tin u c o o n p a o c 10 to Sunday, June I to 3. See story on Pane 5. By SUSAN M. DYCKMAN certainly increase for a full-time pro ' SfHualh Written for The Wettfield Lender gram. § The stale's increased requirements It costs Scotch Plains-Fanwood Consultant Recommends Two Decks in Downtown; for high school graduation make it $2,500 per student for the existing difficult for a “shared time" Vocational-technical program like that offered at the Union While Mayor Forms Advisory on Parking Issue County Vocational-Technical By JAMES VI. FOERST dation and if so. whul would you of February 2(XX) found a parking commuter lots, Schools (UCVTS) in Scotch Specially Written for The Wettfield leadet Plains to work ihe way it used change'’" Mayor McDermott asked deficiency of some 617 spots with a Councilman Sullivan noted that Last week, Rich & Associates, the to, according to Superinten Mr. Rich. 10-year estimate of a 1,436-space many of the people on the wailing parking consultant to the Town of dent Thomas J. Bistocchi. ‘The community needs to he in shortfall. list would decline the permit if it Westfield, recommended thut the "There’s not enough time volved in the process," said Mr, Rich, “I think we have overestimated the were made available. tow n move ahead with plans to build in a child's day to fulfill the a ho continued by stating, "There need for parking,” commented Neil There arc presently 970 names on a parking deck at Llm and Prospect requirements." he said. was not enough public input in the F. Sullivan, Third Wafd Councilman waiting lists for parking permits at Streets and construct a second, The school has proposed a Ihe train station lots located on South smaller structure on North Avenue Avenue and Watterson Street, offi $12 million expansion that alongside the railroad tracks and cials said. would allow the school to of "The community needs to he involved in the process. behind the Paine Webber building. In the end Mr. Rich concluded, “I fer a full-time academic and The town council met last Thurs There was not enough public input in the initial process." strongly recommend two parking Vocational program; The pro day with Richard A. Rich of Rich & Richard A. Rich I structures. A smaller structure on posal calls for construction of Rich & Associates Associates to update recently elected lots I and 8 and a second structure on a new 80,000-square-foot Parking Consultant to Town of Westfield J Union County Vocational-Technical Schools council members on the parking prob lot 9," building for classrooms, sci lems in town, as well as to have Mr. “Frankly, anything would enhance ence and computer labs, fit Rich answer questions which have and Chairman of the council’s Trans the urea on Elm Street near lots I and ness center and auditorium. initial process," shared lime program. In discussing arisen since his last presentation to Councilman Echausse questioned portation, Parking and Traffic Com 8, ” said Mr. Rich. “It is important In a shared time program, a student the issue, some board members have them in the fall. Mr. Rich about the possibility of mittee. thut we add spaces now. We would eives academic instruction at his expressed concern about the impact In particular, both Second Ward building a deck on lot 9, also known “The enforcement of short-term decrease the size of a lots I and 8 al high school, then travels to of increased costs to the district for a Councilman Rafael Betancourt and as the Shell lot, at the corner of North parking has cleared out the down structure by approximately 40 per C’VTS for vocational training. While full-day vo-tech program. First Ward Councilman Peter and Central Avenues. town and reduced the number of cent to 500 stalls. This would miti :udenls spend three periods on the “It's all about making sure the Echausse were not members of the "I still think that your best shot is spaces needed in the central business gate citizens, traffic concerns and 'CVTS campus, Mr. Bistocchi said opportunities are there," said Mr. council when Mr. Rich gave his ini lots 1 and 8," Mr. Rich responded. district. We have created shoppers address design issues,” said Mr. Rich. y spend the equivalent of one pe- Bistocchi, who predicted a "devas tial presentation recommending a "Lot 9 is less efficient than lots I and space by getting out the short-term While the first structure is being iod or more traveling between schools. tating" impact on the county deck at lots 1 and 8, located al Elm 8 with cost per space being higher on (employee) parkers,” Mr. Sullivan built, Mr. Rich reasoned, the town Of New Jersey's 21 county voca- economy if the UCVTS program and Prospect Streets. lot 9. Also, even if we huilt to full said, while referring to meter feed could plan for the construction of a Jional-technical schools, approxi ceased to exist. "My goal is to leave tonight hav capacity on lot 9, with a net gain of ers. second structure at lot 9, which would mately 12 are full-time programs. ing all of the council's questions 262 spaces, there is still a serious He also noted that, "the permit add an additional 262 spaces. The UCVTS superintendent main answered,” said Mayor Gregory S. parking deficit downtown," he said. deficit is really only approximately “There would be additional cost tains a shift to a full-time program, McDcrmoti. Lots I and 8 arc located between 350 spots," calculating that numer with two locations," responded Mr. that offers both academic and voca Parade to Begin “If you had to do it all over again, Elm and Prospect Streets in Ihe down ous names were duplicates on the Rich, when asked by Fourth Ward tional courses at one location, is would you change your recommen town area. Mr. Rich’s parking study Soulh Avenue and Watterson Street CONTINUCO ON PAOC 10 necessary for the program to remain Monday at 9 a.m. a viable option for students seeking Westfield's annual Memorial vocational opportunities, Day Parade will kick off this i “it's the only way to get the kids to Monday, May 28, at 9 a.m. at the Local Chiropractor,Vietnam Veteran to Head j come," said Mr. Bistocchi. Veterans Memorial Monument Like Scotch Plains-Fanwood, at the circle intersection of East • Westfield High School (WHS) cur- Broad Street and North Avenue.