Special Meeting Tonight to Address Parking Permits

There will be a special meeting tonight in Newtown Borough to address a plan that would require free residential parking permits in some parts of town. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, 23 N. State Street.

Residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about the proposal and offer input.

The borough's Long Term Parking Committee is recommending a proposal that would require a residential parking permit for long-term parking on the following streets: Court Street, Center Avenue from State Street to South Congress, Mercer Street from State to Congress, and Penn Street from State to Congress.

The permits will allow residents unlimited all-day parking. Other non-residential vehicles will be restricted to two-hour parking on those streets. Borough Council is expected to consider the plan in May.

If the plan is approved, each vehicle registered to a residential address on those streets will be eligible for a permit. The borough is working to address the issue of parking because residents who live closest to the business district have had trouble finding spots near their homes, officials have said.

A plan to address business parking will also be taken up by Borough Council in the near future.