Summit Approves Additional Parking During Garage Reconstruction

SUMMIT, NJ — The Summit Common Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Sept. 16 to provide additional parking for residents and downtown employees.

Ordinance 25-3355 amends the classification of certain spots in the Broad Street Garage and on Deforest Avenue. The top level of the Broad Street Garage will now gain an additional 84 spaces reserved for residents and downtown employees after converting them from their previous non-resident commuter designation.

An additional eight employee permit parking only spaces are also being converted from being paid visitor openings along Deforest Avenue.

On Sept. 3, the Common Council introduced the ordinance in response to the temporary closure of the upper levels of the Tier Garage on Springfield Avenue. Construction is being done after structural engineers identified water damage and surface deterioration there this summer.

"The only parking problem that we've ever had in Summit is the fact that you can't find the parking spot in front of the store you want to go to," Councilmember Kevin Smallwood said on Sept. 3. "We've never really had a parking problem, until now. Now we have a parking problem."

The lower levels of the Tier Garage are still safe and available for use. A timeline for full restoration is yet to be announced.

In Summit, all-day employee permit parking is currently available at any green bagged street meter in the city, along with in the long-term permit lots. A prepayment or daily payment through Parkmobile zone 1840 is required.

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