Parking Woes In Bristol Prompt Call For Resident Permit System

Should Bristol Borough create a residential parking permit system?

That’s the question two residents are asking borough officials as the borough grows in popularity.

At the Bristol Borough Council meeting on Monday, two borough residents voiced frustration over parking difficulties in neighborhoods near Mill Street.

Allison Toadvine, who lives on Market Street, told council of her daily struggle to find parking in front of her home.

“I’m a homeowner, and I would just like to be able to park in front of my house at the end of the day when I get home,” Toadvine said. “But it can be difficult at times.”

Toadvine noted that non-residents, including Mill Street business customers and employees, frequently take up parking spaces intended for residents who lack driveways or garages.

Christian O’Brien, who lives with Toadvine and owns rental properties in Phoenixville, Chester County, told council of a potential solution based on that community’s experience with similar parking challenges.

“When I first bought, there was nothing going on there. Then they redid the town, much like Mill Street, a lot of new businesses and same problem where there was no parking,” O’Brien said.

Phoenixville Borough’s system allows two permits per household for an annual fee, with temporary passes available for visitors. The restrictions apply only during evening hours from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays, with no permit requirements on weekends.

“The purpose is that you’re keeping people that aren’t residents from parking there,” O’Brien explained. “It’s not to give everybody a parking spot, but not everybody’s going to get one anyway. It’s just to keep people that aren’t residents from parking in front of your house at the times when you really need to park there.”

Borough Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe told the residents of the complexity of implementing such a system in Bristol Borough’s densely packed neighborhoods.

“Here’s the problem. And we can’t figure a way to solve this,” DiGuiseppe said. “You live on Market, so we give you a parking pass for you to park there. Now everybody’s got one. Let’s just say we gave out 50 passes in the first 30 homes on each. On every block, right? Well, what happens tomorrow if I want to park there and I’m visiting you? Or Greg wants to park there when he’s visiting you. Where do we tell him to park?”

DiGuiseppe explained that the borough’s narrow streets, with houses typically only 20 feet wide, create challenges for allocating parking spaces fairly among residents.

“You have a house, a house, a house. So, I couldn’t give you two spots because your neighbor doesn’t have a spot,” DiGuiseppe said.

The parking shortage affects residents throughout the borough, including during special events on Mill Street and at the waterfront.

Mill Street in May 2021. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

DiGuiseppe described his own experience during Italian Day, when he returned home to find all available parking spaces occupied by attendees.

Councilman Greg Pezza, who spoke as a Mill Street business owner, suggested that the recent installation of parking meters on Mill Street might be pushing more people to seek alternative parking on residential streets.

Pezza said there is the need for better education about the borough’s existing Mill Street Parking Lot and encouraged businesses to direct their employees to use it rather than street parking.

“I really think education on the fact that we have that parking lot, it will be good. Maybe signage, lighting that just kind of indicates: go there,” he said.

Council members have been working with borough employees to address the parking shortag, including discussions about creating additional pocket parking by removing structures and installing meters on some residential blocks.

“We’re constantly trying to meet with our engineers, and we’re trying to figure a way to make this work,” DiGuiseppe said.

The borough has worked to get Mill Street business workers to park in the free Mill Street Parking Lot, DiGuiseppe said.

Council members indicated they would continue exploring solutions to address the growing parking concerns as Bristol Borough’s popularity and central business district continue to expand.

Advertisement