Taxi Company Parking Fight Hits The Streets
Neighbors now putting up 'crime scene tape' to prevent taxi drivers from parking
If you drive down Manchester Avenue in Brick, you might think a major crime had occurred there.
Yellow tape resembling the type hung at a crime scene lines several of the front lawns of the street's homes, tied to bushes and trash cans, leading a visitor to wonder if parking was allowed.
That's the point.
The reality: parking is allowed on the narrow block off Mantoloking Road, and an ongoing dispute with a taxi company located at the corner is what has led some neighbors to put up the yellow tape, as well as trash cans, flower pots and other makeshift obstacles that might dissuade one from parking a car there.
New Mantoloking Taxi has its office and parking lot at the corner of Mantoloking Road and Manchester Avenue, and neighbors say drivers employed by the company are leaving their personal vehicles parked on their narrow street while they work. In some cases, they say, there are so many cars parked that emergency vehicles would not be able to get through.
The dispute is the latest controversy in the saga of New Mantoloking's presence on the street. The main story has been the taxi company's ownership of two residential lots next to their regular parking lot. The company, without permission, paved over the residential lots and used them for extra parking. Last month, the township council voted to allow the company to continue to operate through September – only if it agreed not to use the illegally paved portion of the property.
Next week, New Mantoloking will go before the township Board of Adjustment to present its case for a variance to allow the lot to stay paved and to be used commercially. In the mean time, however, neighbors say their quality of life is being diminished.
"I realize it's a public street, people can park there," said Monmouth Avenue resident Joshua Specht, at Tuesday's township council meeting. "But they park right up to our mailboxes, so the mailman won't deliver the mail. All of the sudden, I don't get mail."
Specht said he's called the police department to report cars parked illegally at stop signs at the Mantoloking Road intersection, which makes things dangerous for residents turning out onto the busy road.
"They don't care," he said, of the taxi company employees. "They don't care about the residents. They need a place to park, they have to go to work, and they just park wherever they want."
"I can't get in and out of my house," said David Panebianco, another neighbor. "Now, I have to worry about cars parking on properties ... It's contaminating my property, my area, my children."
Another member of the public at the council meeting accused the taxi company of instructing drivers to park on the street out of spite, an accusation that New Mantoloking's owner, Henry Acierno, denies.
"It wasn't done spitefully," he told Brick Patch on Wednesday. "My drivers have no place to park. Where are they supposed to go?"
He accused neighbors of being "inconsiderate" as his quest for a variance makes its way through the process of being heard by the Board of Adjustment.
"Right now, the people are blocking off spots," he said. "They're roping them off like it's a murder scene. They have nothing better to do."
Acierno said the entire situation would be resolved if he's allowed to use the paved lot for extra parking, though some neighboring residents are expected to oppose his application at next week's meeting.
"The board is going to take into consideration some of the issues you've said," said Councilwoman Susan Lydecker, referencing concerns brought up by Panebianco.
"The board may approve them, they may deny them," Lydecker said. "If they do deny them, they'll have to tear it up and put down grass or whatever was there beforehand, and we take it from there."
Councilman Dan Toth urged patience, telling residents to wait to hear the outcome of next week's Board of Adjustment hearing. Otherwise, he said, an ordinance has already been drafted that would ban parking on Manchester Avenue, Sterling Avenue and Monmouth Avenue, all streets adjacent to the taxi company.
"If it doesn't go to the applicant's wishes, and they're made to remediate the area, we've got certain tools already in line," Toth said.
The Board of Adjustment hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 18, at 7 p.m. at the township municipal complex.
Joseph Woolston Brick
7:51 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
So if parking is banned on said streets, what about the people that live on those streets? They may need the parking for visitors to their homes or for themselves? As usual when politicians can't figure out a good solution, they just ban something.
bernard yucker
5:22 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Resident parking only tags..
Brickresident
8:00 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Maybe they should park the car the drive where they take the taxi from in the parking lot.
Joseph Woolston Brick
8:15 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Let them park in the Foodtown parking lot,have the town charge the taxi company a nominal fee for doing so and then let someone in the taxi company ferry the drivers back and forth from the company to the parking lot. There done!
madge
8:16 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Yea really. They are leaving their car and taking the cab....why can't they just put their car in the spot the cab was in...then at the end of their shift just swap them.
madge
8:17 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
That foodtown lot is such an eyesore all these years.
forrealplaya
6:03 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
& the WOW building
Joseph Woolston Brick
8:19 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Madge cause there's more employees than just the drivers you have dispatchers and such working as well. Plus all the cabs are not in use all the time either.
Jerry Belle
8:37 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Before the lot was illegally paved over, where did the driver's park their personal vehicles while they worked as cab drivers? If they parked on the street then why are the neighbors taking this action now? If they didn't park on the street then this is a deliberate action to cause some "noise" and make it appear that the illegally paved area is desperately needed by the workers. If the Township grants them approval this will send a message to other commercial entities to break the law and eventually the Township may give in to demands.
zipit
8:37 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
what a joke, they need to be me worried about the new pizzaria that opened that just about causes accidents every weekend or people crossing in the middle of the street almost getting hit by cars..
Leave the taxis alone, the yellow tape looks getto, just let them do their job... Dont these people have something better else to do all day ( like go to work)
Lets see, 1st they give them a hard time about paving part of their property ( Township just mad they didnt get a cut in the work) Now they are givng them a hard time about parking on the street... Give it a rest, & find something better to complain about & township Dont you have something better to do Like wonder why so many buisness are closing in Brick?
Typical Obama Voter
8:57 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Didn't the township pass a law a few years back, that forbid anyone from appearing before the board, if their property was not brought back into compliance?
If someone made illegal improvements and then applied for variances, they were supposed to remove the improvements before being granted a hearing.
Am I wrong?
Mickey
9:18 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
seems the township just looked the other way....unless they planted bamboo....then there would have been hell to pay !
fogetaboutit
9:48 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Please PPL put extentions on the back of there houses with noone from the town knowing... its like the military... Dont ask dont tell
Daniel Nee
11:18 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Aqua -- As it was explained to me, the ordinance allows the Board of Adjustment to require a property owner to return a property to its original state before they will hear a case for a variance, if the board so chooses. It's not necessarily a mandate.
Glenn
9:19 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Perhaps it's time for the taxi company to move to a larger location.
brick strong
12:59 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Glenn ..thats the common sense call..If they have over grown that location find another one that solve the problem,,,Its not rocket science ..And good for them if they have built there business to need more cars and drivers...That's success ..not a problem..
Bricktown Lew
9:45 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
What is real stupid is that that whole area around there has harmless places to park. However, since everyone there is probably too lazy to park someplace out of the way, they congregate the closest to the office. They are sitting in a cab or office all day. Why can't they walk a few minutes and park some place where they are not blocking a mailbox, driveway, or stop sign? Because the employees most likely pile their cars bumper to bumper from the office down Manchester Ave.
Bricktown Lew
9:48 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Then, if shuttling is not the answer, then I agree with Glenn. Move to a larger area with more room. Until then, do not block anyone's mailbox or driveway!!!
fogetaboutit
9:50 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
since the neighorhood/town is pushing them out of there are they going to help relocated them & will the town offer a building for the same rent?
Chief Wahoo
10:08 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Sure glad Lydecker is on the council....maybe they will and maybe they wont....what a genius
dorothyr
10:38 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
what part of "residential property" doesn't the cab understand? he knowlingly placed his business in a residential area, paved over the 2 lots, then hoped to have the rules changed for him since it's a hardship and mean-spirited by the neighbors. sounds very self-serving and heavy-handed on his part. i don't blame the neighbors one bit.
Robert
12:01 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
If a car is parked legally,then there shoud be no complaints. As far as the paving of those lots without a varience, I do think that it was wrong and the owner should be held responsible. But the local residents should not be be decorating their property with yelllow tape or any other signs.
bernard yucker
6:26 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Cars are on grass and blocking mailboxs and hanging into the drive was.And with to many cars, Firetrucks can't come down the street and garbage will not get picked up.. It's not good..
just thinkin
12:44 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
what about the emty lot right next to them, cant the town allow them to clear that to make parking?? then the neighbors will be happy the cars are of of " their roads" & the taxi buisness will have ample parking...
brickdragons
6:19 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
if that scanky hotel next to them was smart they would offer to use their parking lot, make it LOOK like people stay there...
tony c
7:20 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Leave Mantoloking taxi alone, you guys have nothing better to do then to worry about parking, give me a freaking break, get a job or something, find a freaking hobby better yet get a life. Unbelievable you people are crazy especially the one who started the problem.good luck Mantoloking in court ..
bernard yucker
12:48 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Get all the facts before opening your mouth..This is not just about parking..
nobody
2:34 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Then what is it about...is it about drunk guys running out and threatening drivers for parking legally? Is it about residents taking down license plate numbers for parking legally? Is it about forcing drivers to cross mantoloking road on foot while cars speed by so they don't park on your precious street? Is it about.....what starting a. car?....closing a hood after they check oil?...what please tell me....cause its not .about Paving that lot...that was done years ago...
DS
10:59 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
If you lived there, you'd realize that it is a 24 hr business that creates a quality of life issues. The paving of the residential lot was illegal and according to town rules, needs to be restored to the way it was. They are not above the law. They have obviously outgrown their space and need to relocate to a bigger space instead of doing what they want, whenever they want, which is what they are doing.
clyde
8:01 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
They had a similar problem over by BTHS. Kids would park on the streets of that neighborhood (legally) The town gave residents permits for their cars.
forrealplaya
9:19 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
But if they are going to Brick HS then they ARE residents of the town... chances are the parents are paying their share of taxes, WHY should they NOT be allowed to park on a public street??
DS
11:03 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Parking on a narrow street is fine, unless it is a bunch of cars because that jeopardizes the safety of residents. If fire trucks can't pass and garbage trucks can't do their job, then you are putting lives in jeopardy.
darrell
9:36 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Yellow caution tape .I will also use it for no parking infront of my house. I"m quite sure if it's good for some people to use it, will be good for all to use and I don't live by Mantoloking Road.
darrell
9:37 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Clye, excellent idea. Permits...
junior
9:01 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
Junior. I work there and I won't park on no lawn or by a mail box. We also need a place to park and some of us do park away from residence home in respect of there property. So please give us a break to until this get resolve!
DS
11:05 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Park in the spot of the cab you are using and then put the cab back after you are done and then you will have your car back.
forrealplaya
9:20 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
mailmen... motto, " threw rain sleet & snow"
Just not walking around a car...
givitabreak
8:18 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Just cant believe in a town that pride its self on being one of the lowest crime town in the USA, & seeing all the Crime that has been going on lately People, courts & The township is worried, complaining, taking count time out, to worry about this....
REALLY!! ? If its public street they can park where every they want, IF you want your car close to your home in the same spot every day, make a driveway or carport....
DS
11:10 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
If you were impacted by this, you might feel differently.
DS
11:15 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Oh, and speaking of crime, try to google the name of the actual owner and you will see he is a less than honest person accused and convicted of all kinds of crimes. Perhaps Brick should screen business applicants like other towns do.