Township of Westampton, NJ Article III Designation of On-Street Handicapped Parking in Residential Zones

[Adopted 5-24-2005 by Ord. No. 9-2005]

§ 232-23 Designation of restricted parking spaces for handicapped residents.

A. Restricted parking spaces may be established on public streets in front of residential uses occupied by handicapped persons in accordance with the procedures described herein.

B. An application must be filed with the Township Clerk identifying the name and address of the handicapped individual and the specific location of the proposed restricted parking space.

C. Upon application for a space, the applicant must provide the Township Clerk with the following:

(1) The applicant must possess a disabled person identification card issued by the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles.

(2) The applicant must furnish a valid motor vehicle registration for the vehicle requiring the space and, if the applicant is the vehicle operator, a valid motor vehicle operator license.

(3) The applicant may request a designated handicapped parking space only for the applicant's place of residence.

(4) If the applicant is not the owner of the property at which the handicapped parking space is to be designated, a written statement from the property owner must be submitted stating that the owner has no objection to the restriction of parking in front of the property.

D. The Township Clerk shall forward said application to the Bureau of Traffic Safety for a recommendation on whether to approve or disapprove said permit. Said recommendation shall be made within 21 calendar days of receiving such request.

E. Upon receipt of an application to designate a restricted parking space for handicapped persons, the Bureau of Traffic Safety shall perform a site inspection to determine the following:

(1) Whether off-street parking is presently available on the property.

(2) The location, width, grade and physical condition of off-street parking and sidewalk connecting said parking to the residence.

(3) Whether parking is presently prohibited in front of said residence.

(4) Whether there is a distance of 22 feet along the street where a handicapped parking space could be designated without interfering with the normal flow of traffic.

F. An application for a handicapped space shall be denied if:

(1) Pursuant to applicable state or municipal law, the parking of motor vehicles is prohibited at the location of the requested handicapped parking space or the permitting of such parking would interfere with the normal flow of traffic.

(2) The applicant or handicapped person is the owner of the property at which the space is to be designated and has reasonable access to a driveway on the property or reasonable access to some other area of the property which may permit the transport of the handicapped person.

(3) The applicant resides, either as a tenant or an owner, in a housing complex which provides off-street parking and has reasonable access to said parking and an on-site handicapped parking space has been provided by the owner of the housing complex.

G. Upon receipt of a favorable recommendation for approval, the Township Clerk shall forward the recommendation to the Township Committee for adoption of an ordinance designating the handicapped space.

H. All permits issued under this article and prior to this article for the establishment of a restricted handicapped parking space shall be reviewed every year to determine the continued eligibility of the parking space as follows:

(1) Annually, on or before July 1, written notice shall be sent by the applicant to the Township Clerk, on forms provided by the Township, indicating that a valid and continued need for the handicapped parking space exists. In the event that such notice is not received within 30 days, the handicapped parking space sign shall be removed and the space will be repealed.

I. The addition of handicapped parking spaces in addition to the number that are presently on the streets is a matter that the Township may pursue on behalf of individuals who qualify fully under the article. However, there is no obligation by the Township to create such spaces in the event that creating the spaces would result in a shortage of spaces for nonhandicapped drivers.