THE PARKING FUND

Some ten years ago Rivercenter, the special improvement committee, was creating a new image for Red Bank. New businesses were being drawn to the soon to be “Hip Town” with restaurants leading the number of new businesses. At that time in order to meet the parking requirements the restaurants were leasing space from private parking areas. The problem with this plan was that there was no way to monitor who was parking where and it was soon realized by the Mayor and various boards that some of the parking areas were being used or rented to a couple of businesses.

I believe it was at that time that the Parking Fund was created. Whatever the shortage of parking that was required the business was required to pay a certain amount of money for each parking place it was short into the Parking Fund. This money was to be used in time to build, create and provide additional parking for the town. As the White Street Garage plans were defeated for political reasons and the funds grew in the town's checkbook they were eventually used for other tax needs in the town. It is now a common practice to have a short fall of parking spots and pay into the fund to meet the parking requirements.

I feel there is also a problem with the code requirements for parking spaces. The Two River Theater has one hundred spaces in its parking lot for the 300 some odd seats they have. However on any given performance there is an overflow of about 80 to 100 cars that park on Bridge Ave. and in the Blaisdell parking lot. This number makes parking barely bearable on performance days for the area and the businesses in them. This is only one example of what is coming as the whole town develops. The same parking issues will be felt all over our town as we build new and rejuvenate older buildings.

It is time for the Parking Fund to be put to the use it was intended for. It is time for the Major and council, the private sector businesses, the developers and New Jersey Transit to put there heads and money together to and develop parking for both the East and West sides of town. The White Street Garage is a must, a parking garage over the parking at the railway station is possible and the leasing at night of private sector parking areas with valet services has to be looked at. If we don't attack the problem now any new development and businesses on either side of town are going to be affected. Any volunteers?