West Orange May Roll Out Permit Parking In This Local Neighborhood

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Permit parking may soon be coming to the Valley section of West Orange.

Last spring, a parking study was finalized for the township in an attempt to address some of the challenges that local residents and visitors face in West Orange. The study can be viewed online here.

The township has recently hosted public meetings for business owners, property owners and residents. Many attendees have requested that permit parking be created in the Valley area along Swaine Place, Riggs Place, Quinby Place, Pillot Place, and Rollinson Street from Mitchell Street to South Valley Road.

Town administrators are now trying to get a bead on whether the public supports the proposal – and how many permits would be needed.

The township has launched a survey to get some feedback from local residents. Some questions include:

• As a property owner, should the township proceed forward with a permitting program in your neighborhood?
• If so, how many permits would be needed for each household?
• Would you be in favor of the township implementing an alternating one-way street system in your neighborhood?

To request a survey or get more information, contact the Department of Engineering at engineering@westorange.org or 973-325-4160. The deadline for a reply is Jan. 16. People can return the survey using the enclosed envelope, fax, or text to 973-325-4160, or scan and email their response to engineering@westorange.org.

PARKING IN WEST ORANGE

According to the April 2025 study, the Valley area of town isn’t the only neighborhood that is struggling with parking. Other sections of town cited in the study include the Heights, and Rolling Green Hills/Municipal Plaza.

Some key findings from the study included:

• Parking Demand – High demand was observed along residential roadways, particularly within the Heights and Valley areas, leading to fully occupied streets and limited maneuverability.
• Inconsistent Restrictions – Variations in parking restrictions (alternate side vs. street sweeping) create confusion, enforcement challenges, and limit the effective capacity.
• Road Widths – Narrow streets with heavy demand pose safety and emergency response concerns. Roads less than 30 feet wide are often too narrow for two-way travel with parking on both sides.

Some recommendations included:

• Convert to One-Way – Convert roads with heavy demand and narrow travel ways from two-way to one-way traffic.
• Adjust Restrictions – Remove alternate side restrictions where appropriate and implement street sweeping restrictions.
• Remove Unnecessary Restrictions – Eliminate outdated time limits and no parking restrictions.
• Permit Parking – Introduce permit parking where adjacent uses impact resident parking.
• Ensure Consistency – Align ordinance regulations with posted signage.

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