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After suspending a parking ordinance pertaining to the restrictions near the Edison train station, the Edison Township Council passed a new version of the ordinance on its first reading April 29. A second reading is currently scheduled for May 13.

"The purpose of this ordinance is really to improve the quality of life and provide relief to the immediate area," Randi Chmielewski, the constituency relations manager for Mayor Jun Choi, said.

Many residents were outraged over the parking ordinance as it was proposed in February, claiming it was too restrictive. But residents of the neighborhoods near the Central Ave. station complained their streets had become extremely overcrowded, with many people parking illegally without permits and blocking driveways.

The council suspended that ordinance, which would change parking permit hours from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday to 6 a.m.-12 a.m. every day. It also said residents would receive a permit for each vehicle they own and each residence would be allowed two visitor permits, which would be valid for two days per visitor. Additionally, both the residents of the house and the visitors must park on the same block as the host.

That ordinance had divided the area into zones; many residents objected to the restrictions in Zone 2, which is a select number of streets where many of the residents felt they didn't need or want permit parking on their street. Therefore, the ordinance passed April 29 does not include Zone 2.

"Really what this does is it takes it (the ordinance) back to November 2008," Chmielewski said. "If you had permit parking, you still do. And if you didn't, you still don't."

There were three significant changes from the current version of the ordinance to the new one, she said. The major change is from Prescott Street to Stony Road West, where the parking restrictions will change to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Also, the number of visitor parking passes per household will increase from two to three and each visitor can stay for a maximum of three days. However, if a visitor needs to stay for more than three days, a resident can call the police and let them know.

"The reason why they relaxed on the changes was because of the pressure that was put on them because of people like myself," said Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg, of Congregation Beth-El, who opposed the restrictions in the original bill.