City Council instituted permit parking along Price Street, Jackson Avenue and parts of Linden Avenue in response to an influx of parking from a new development nearby.

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City Council unanimously approved an ordinance (O-39-21) following a public hearing during its regular meeting on Oct. 12. The measure was introduced at the Sept. 13 meeting.

City Administrator Jacqueline Foushee explained that the ordinance was meant to address an “influx of parking” as a result of Meridia Brownstones along Elizabeth Avenue, a block away. The developer, Linden-based Capodagli Property Company, opened one of the parking lots that wasn’t intended to be parking yet to accommodate 50-plus spaces off-street parking, according to Foushee.

Residential permit parking will be enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the entire length and both sides of Price Street and Jackson Avenue along with both sides of Linden Avenue between Jackson Avenue and West Scott Avenue. “Only motor vehicles with the permit prominently displayed will be entitled to be parked without limitation, with the exception of motor vehicles that display a guest pass,” according to the ordinance.

There were no questions or comments from council members but during the public hearing on the ordinance, Peter Stegun of Price Street asked whether parking permits will be free for residents.

The governing body moved forward with the ordinance to better address residents and property owners due to the inconvenience of these vehicles, Foushe said. The city does not intend to charge for permits for residential parking, she said, adding that she envisions permits would accommodate approximately two vehicles accommodate per household. The duration for visitor parking has not been determined yet, Foushee said; in other neighborhoods, residents have simply notified the city how long visitors will be parking.

Phase 1A of the Meridia Brownstones project began construction in 2018 and was completed in December. Phase 1 includes 298 apartments and demolition is under way for the Phase 1B of the project. UPDATED, Oct. 20: In her report to the Redevelopment Agency at tonight’s monthly meeting, City Engineer Jacqueline Dirmann said construction is continuing on Phase 1B and the developer is likely to file for a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) in the next month, with hopes to file in the next week.

The Planning Board unanimously approved preliminary and final major site plans in December 2014. The project is planned to be built in phases, eventually topping out at 487 units across four, five-story buildings, constructed over several years at the former Wheatena and Quinn & Boden sites along Elizabeth Avenue, from West Grand and West Scott avenues.

The application met the required 609 parking spaces, with 624 spaces:

• 541 ground-floor spaces
• 59 spaces in a lot across the street
• 24 on-street spaces along Elizabeth Avenue

In February, the Redevelopment Agency approved a new redevelopment agreement with the developer, setting a new timeline and milestones associate with the development. According to that timeline, construction was to start on Phase 2 By July 1, while completion of Phase 1 — in its entirety including Phase 1C — was expected by Sept. 1. Completion of Phase 2 construction targets the end of 2022.

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