Handicap Parking Requests for Green and Seidner Family Practice Tabled

The public safety committee this month opted to table a request for handicap parking from a Lansdale doctor's office pending more information from the office on the necessity for such parking.

Lansdale Police Chief Robert McDyre said Green and Seidner Family Practice at South Broad Street and West Ninth Street has requested two handicap parking spots on West Ninth Street, adjacent to a handicap ramp in front of the building.

"They do have two existing in the back, but the placement is terrible," McDyre said. "You park there and you have to go all the way around to get in."

There is a concern with the request: a stop sign and fire hydrant mars the spots being located close to the handicap ramp.

"It's really complicated," McDyre said. "The minimal we can place them is 30 feet, which takes them way away from the ramp." 

Councilwoman Mary Fuller said West Ninth Street has curb and grass and no depression for handicap accessibility. She said it wouldn't be practical unless a ramp is installed on the street.

"I don't know if it would benefit anybody who required handicap parking. It wouldn't be conducive," she said. "It's not close to the ramp."  

The committee agreed to go back to Green and Seidner administration and find out the real intent and what it is trying to accomplish by adding two handicap spots. 

"I'm wondering if it is for the elderly or people with wheelchairs," McDyre said.

"Maybe we can talk with them and see what they want," said committee Chairman Mike Sobel. "I went out there too, and it's not going to happen." 

Sobel added that the spots can't be placed on Broad Street.

"Somebody would get killed there," he said.

Fuller said it would be difficult to get a wheelchair out of a vehicle, unless it was on the passenger side.

"At least then it's closer to the ramp than a cutout," she said. "Ninth Street doesn't have that option."