Elizabeth sets requirements for parking lot permits

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Elizabeth Borough Council made it clear Tuesday that it will not grant permits for the new parking lot planned on the former site of the Moose Building until all requirements for the lot have been met.

The property is owned by the Elizabeth Area Development Corporation, which had hopes of combining its property with the existing PNC Bank lot, but the bank property is currently up for sale.

“Our intention once we get done with it is to turn it over to the borough,” said EADC President Larry Ross.

“That’s a long way off,” said borough solicitor Krisha DiMascio. “We’re not going to look at this in conjunction with the bank lot unless you’re buying the bank.”

DiMascio said the borough is willing to work with the EADC as much as possible, but the EADC is going to have to have all the proper permits from PennDOT in place before the borough can consider approving the plans for the lot.

“If you can’t meet the requirements for a parking lot, you can’t be permitted as a parking lot. You will need ingress and egress approval from PennDOT,” DiMascio said. “You may get hit with a traffic study, which can be quite expensive and cost-prohibitive.”

Ross said a draftsman is drawing up plans for the lot free of charge, which he will submit to the borough, and state Rep. Mike Puskaric is helping the EADC navigate through PennDOT requirements.

The EADC will be requesting the use of Plum Street from June through the first week in September for outdoor concerts, Ross added. EADC member Jason Berman said the nonprofit organization would also like to add a bi-weekly farmers market to bring fresh produce and crafts to the community.

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