[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Aldan as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-8-2009 by Ord. No. 502]
The streets and thoroughfares of the Borough of Aldan were,
for the most part, not built or designed with the intention of allowing
parking of motor vehicles along the sides of streets. The Borough
of Aldan was founded in September of 1893, before the advent of motor
vehicles, which was a time when most individuals either walked or
used the horse, or the horse and buggy, for transportation. As a courtesy,
with the growth of motor vehicles, municipalities in general, and
the Borough of Aldan in particular, have permitted parking upon streets.
At all times, however, the regulation of those parking privileges
have remained within those powers retained by municipalities. With
the rise of intense development in eastern Delaware County, however,
the Borough of Aldan finds itself in a densely urban area to the point
where Borough residents are oftentimes unable, in many parts of the
Borough, to find parking near their homes. Many citizens do not have
garages or lack enough yardage to construct parking. This situation
seriously affects our citizens, as they may be unable to shop or carry
on other routine business for fear of losing parking that they have
or of not finding parking upon their return. The Borough Council finds
that of increasing significance is that the effect upon the local
environment of heavy vehicular traffic, including the noise, dirt,
litter and pollution created by motor vehicles visiting the Borough,
is generally unhealthy to Borough residents, both aesthetically and
physically. Accordingly, this article is designed to increase the
quality of life in the Borough, to preserve the safety of children
and other pedestrians and to promote traffic safety and the peace,
good order, comfort, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of
the Borough.
The following words or phrases, when used within this article,
shall have the following meanings ascribed to them:
The Borough of Aldan.
A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities
for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living,
which normally include provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking and
sanitation, but which also include each room within a rooming house
or boardinghouse.
Any officer employed by the Borough to enforce the terms
of this article, or any other parking ordinance, which includes all
police officers within the Aldan Borough Police Department.
A vehicle which is self-propelled, except one which is propelled
solely by human power or by electric power obtained from trolley tracks
or overhead trolley wires.
A natural person, firm, partnership, association or legal
entity or corporation.
A permit and placard issued by the Borough to provide parking
by an eligible resident for on-street parking abutting his/her residence.
A way intended for general public use to provide means of
travel for vehicles and pedestrians. This definition shall include
the words "road," "highway," "cartway," "lane" and "thoroughfare."
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property
may be transported or drawn upon a highway or street, except devices
used exclusively upon rails or tracks.
The residential parking program (RPP) shall be instituted as
follows:
A.
A district known as the "Residential Parking Program Area" (RPPA)
is created within the Borough of Aldan. Any resident of the Borough
of Aldan who validly obtains a residential parking permit/placard
for parking upon the street abutting his/her residence as provided
within this article shall park only in the area for which he/she receives
the residential parking permit and shall not park that permitted vehicle
in any other residential parking area within the Borough.
B.
During the time set forth within Subsection C of this section, no person shall be permitted to park a motor vehicle in or along the side of any Borough street set forth in Subsection D herein, and known as the RPPA, unless there appears upon the interior of the vehicle the residential parking placard, to be displayed either upon the dashboard in front of the steering column or surrounding the neck of the rearview mirror, or where there appears in a visible location a valid guest placard as provided by Subsection E(2) herein or a valid special card as provided by Subsection E(3) herein.
C.
The RPPA shall be in effect from 12:00 midnight through 6:00 a.m.
daily, including all weekends and holidays.
E.
The permits or placards provided by this article may be obtained
and shall have the costs as set forth below:
(1)
Residential parking placards may be obtained from the Borough and
shall be free of cost.
(2)
Guest cards may be obtained from the Borough and are provided free
of cost. Lost or stolen guest cards may be replaced at the cost of
$5.
(3)
Special cards or placards may be obtained from the Borough and are
provided free of cost. Special cards or placards shall be returned
to the Borough Secretary immediately following their use.
F.
The eligibility for permits and placards (or special cards) provided
by this article shall be as follows:
(1)
Any person residing within a dwelling unit abutting the streets within
the RPPA shall be entitled to receive from the Borough a residential
parking permit for each vehicle that person owns or has a right to
possess. Joint owners shall be treated as one owner. The applicant
shall present one item constituting proof of residency and one item
constituting proof of ownership or right to possession of a motor
vehicle. In order to be eligible to receive a residential parking
permit placard, the item constituting proof of residency and the item
constituting proof of ownership or right to possession of a motor
vehicle must demonstrate the same address within the RPPA. If proof
of a residence in the Borough and right to possession of a motor vehicle
was properly demonstrated to the Borough, the Borough shall issue
a permit and a placard to the applicant for residential parking abutting
his/her home.
(2)
No permit issued herein shall be transferable. Any person changing
residence from the RPPA shall surrender the permit or placard to the
Borough Secretary. Any person desiring to transfer the permit from
one vehicle to another may do so by application to the Borough. It
is a violation of this article to transfer, sell, duplicate, counterfeit
or otherwise misuse a residential parking permit placard.
(3)
Each dwelling unit within the RPPA is eligible to be issued one guest card. An applicant for a guest card must present proof of residency as required by Subsection F(1) above. The Borough shall have no responsibility for the issuance of guest cards to any particular resident of a dwelling unit.
(4)
Special cards.
(a)
Upon written application to the Borough, permission may be obtained
for special cards to be used for limited hours during special events
within the RPPA. Such application must note the purpose of event,
the day and times, the number of vehicles expected and the names of
the responsible Borough resident to contact with respect to said event.
(b)
The Borough may grant special cards for special events, within
its sole discretion. Criteria to be included in determining such discretion
shall include, but not be limited to, whether the granting of special
cards shall pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the
residents of the Borough or surrounding communities, whether such
grant shall create a serious inconvenience to other residents of the
RPPA or whether the granting of special cards shall defeat the goals
and intention of this article.
(c)
When such special cards are granted, the Borough Secretary shall
notify all enforcement officers.
(d)
Special cards for special events which are distributed by the
Borough are valid for no longer than 24 hours and shall be so designated.
G.
Exemptions. The following persons are exempt from the provisions
and restrictions of this section:
(1)
Owners and operators of emergency vehicles engaged in emergency operations.
(2)
Medical doctors, or other licensed health care providers, conducting
emergency or exigent house calls within the RPPA.
(3)
Service vehicles, clearly labeled as such, during the time that persons
from said service vehicle are performing an emergency service at a
dwelling unit within the RPPA.
H.
Each street within the RPPA shall be posted with a minimum of two
signs per block, where said signs shall read:
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RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ONLY
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12:00 A.M. – 6:00 A.M. daily
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(including all holidays and weekends)
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I.
If a person sells a motor vehicle, the permit and placard must be
returned to the Borough. If a replacement vehicle is purchased, the
old permit or placard may be exchanged for a new one free of charge.
A.
Any person violating any provision of this article (except those activities set forth within Subsection B below) shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be subject to a fine of not more than $15, in addition to the costs of prosecution.
B.
Any person violating this article through the misuse of a permit
or placard (including guest cards or special cards) by selling or
otherwise transferring a permit or placard to another person or by
counterfeiting or using a facsimile or copy of a placard or permit
shall, upon conviction, by guilty of a summary offense and be subject
to a fine of not more than $500, plus the costs of prosecution. Additionally,
any person convicted pursuant to this subsection shall have all residential
parking permit privileges suspended for a period of one year, including
all guest cards.
