Roselle Council Approves Resident-Only Permit Parking for Portion of Douglas Road

The Roselle Borough Council approved a new resident-only permit parking ordinance during its September 23 meeting, establishing restricted parking on a portion of Douglas Road in response to neighbor concerns about congestion and vehicle safety.

The ordinance covers Douglas Road between the southerly curb line of Alison Road and the northerly curb line of Brooklawn Avenue. The measure passed after Mayor Donald Shaw cast a tie-breaking vote, with the initial count splitting 3-3.

Residents on Douglas Road had raised concerns that non-residents would park on the street, making it difficult for Department of Public Works vehicles to collect trash and for emergency vehicles to navigate the narrow street. Some residents also reported that break-ins were occurring when outside vehicles were parked nearby.

5th Ward Councilman Rosetta McCamery, whose constituents live on Douglas Road, supported the ordinance. "This is something that the residents want," McCamery said. "They have talked about people coming and breaking into their cars. They have talked about how vehicles cannot get through because of all the congestion on both sides of the street."

Three council members voted against the measure: 2nd Ward Councilman Brandon Bernier, 3rd Ward Councilwoman Ethelyne Grimsley, and Councilwoman-at-Large Cynthia Johnson.

Bernier questioned whether the ordinance addressed a genuine parking shortage or was simply designed to reserve curb space. "The intent of resident-only parking was to ensure that there is parking for the residents, not to ensure that the residents have free and open curb space and that no one else is ever parking nearby," Bernier said. "It is because there are literally too many cars for the street."

Opponents also cited a lack of coordination with other municipal departments. The police department and council had not conducted extensive discussion about the parking zoning proposal before the vote.

Johnson expressed concerns that approving this ordinance could trigger similar requests from other neighborhoods across Roselle.

The ordinance passed on second reading. Residents affected by the new restrictions should monitor the borough for implementation details and enforcement timelines.

FAQ

Q: Where will the new resident-only parking apply in Roselle?

A: The ordinance applies to a portion of Douglas Road between the southerly curb line of Alison Road and the northerly curb line of Brooklawn Avenue.

Q: Why did Roselle approve this ordinance?

A: Residents on Douglas Road complained that non-residents parking on the street created congestion, making it difficult for Department of Public Works trash collection and emergency vehicle access. Some residents also reported vehicle break-ins occurring when outside vehicles were parked nearby.

Q: How did the council vote on this ordinance?

A: The initial vote was 3-3, resulting in a tie. Mayor Donald Shaw cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the ordinance, approving it.

Q: Who voted against the ordinance and why?

A: Councilman Brandon Bernier (2nd Ward), Councilwoman Ethelyne Grimsley (3rd Ward), and Councilwoman-at-Large Cynthia Johnson voted against it. They cited concerns about lack of discussion with other municipal departments and questioned whether the ordinance addressed a real parking shortage or simply reserved curb space for residents.

Q: What is the concern about setting a precedent?

A: Councilwoman Johnson expressed worry that approving this ordinance could encourage similar requests from residents in other Roselle neighborhoods, potentially creating a broad pattern of resident-only parking requests across the borough.

Q: What happens next?

A: The ordinance passed on second reading. Residents affected by the new restrictions should watch for implementation details and enforcement information from the borough.