Berkeley Heights Council Adopts Mountain Avenue School Zones

The Berkeley Heights Township Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026-23 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, creating a center turn lane on Mountain Avenue in front of Mary Kay McMillan School and setting school zone speed limits along the road. Union County Life is summarizing the vote.

The ordinance sets a 25 mph school zone at McMillan from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. and from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. Before the vote, the council amended the ordinance to correct the location of the Mountain Park School zone. That zone will now begin 50 feet west of Princeton Avenue and run 2,032 feet west, roughly to Lorraine Avenue.

During public comment, George deLuna, a school bus driver for the district and an independent candidate for mayor, called the center lane “a good idea and long overdue.” He supported the lower limit near Mountain Park. He opposed lowering the limit at McMillan, saying nearly all of its students arrive by car and “there are virtually no children walking to school.” He also suggested raising the permanent 30 mph limits on Park and Snyder avenues to 35 mph outside school hours.

Councilwoman Margaret Illis, who works with the township’s Complete Streets committee, said the lower limits are meant to encourage walking. Mayor Angie Devanney said that as a runner who lives in the area, she has seen more children walking there in recent years than in the past two decades. Council President John Foster noted that Westminster’s kindergarten and pre K program, next to McMillan, has drop off and pickup times outside the ordinance’s school zone hours.

Township attorney Scott Salmon said the ordinance could not be changed that night without reintroducing it. The council could adopt it and take up the issue in a separate ordinance, and council members agreed to follow up with the police chief.

Steve Carrellas said moving both school zones to set hours with flashing lights will require new electronics, not just new signs. He said Mountain Park already has much of the equipment, while McMillan is missing a sign for eastbound traffic. Illis said she expects the police chief has accounted for the costs, which the council will consider during the upcoming budget process. Carrellas also thanked the council for keeping tabled a resolution supporting a state bill that would let towns lower speed limits by 5 mph in heavy pedestrian areas without an engineering study.

Business administrator Liza Viana said the police chief supports any lawful step that makes school zones and downtown areas safer. She noted that the township must pay $7,500 for an engineering study just to paint turn arrows on a road.

Find more Berkeley Heights government and local news at unioncountylife.com.

FAQ

What did the council decide?
The council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026-23, which creates a center turn lane on Mountain Avenue in front of Mary Kay McMillan School and sets school zone speed limits along the road.

What are the school zone hours at McMillan?
The 25 mph school zone runs from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. and from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Where does the Mountain Park school zone start?
It begins 50 feet west of Princeton Avenue and runs 2,032 feet west, roughly to Lorraine Avenue.

Will the school zones take effect right away?
The source does not say. Setting school zone hours with flashing lights will require new electronics and signs, and the costs will be considered in the upcoming budget process.