Phoenixville Residential Permit Parking in Effect

After floating around in committees and council for nearly a year, a residential parking permit program officially began in Phoenixville on Feb. 1.

The permits apply to residential zone A, the 200 and 300 blocks of Church and Hall streets (between Main and Bridge streets). The program was not implemented without protest and requests for changes.

At a Nov. 1 meeting, to consider changing the times for two-hour parking in the zone, stating that downtown visitors often arrive after the 8 p.m. cutoff. Two-hour parking is in effect for the 200 and 300 blocks of Church and Hall streets between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day except Sunday for those without residential permits.

The ordinance passed 6-2 at the November meeting, with Council Vice President Ken Buckwalter (R-West) and Councilman Dave Gautreau (R-East) voting against it and several council members saying they’d like to see changes made to it.

When other residents learned of the plans through a notice distributed by the borough, several showed up at the January council meeting, Hall Street resident Joe Rexroat told council it would be difficult to accommodate visitors, as residents will have to get visitor hang tags for $5 for 14 days.

“I feel like I’m at my parents' house,” Rexroat told council.

Councilwoman Jennifer Mayo, who represents the middle ward, said surveys were taken and the residential permit system was in the works for some time.

“We know that residents aren’t happy with it,” Mayo said.

Later in the meeting, she made a motion, which passed unanimously, to reinstate the ad-hoc parking steering committee to take another look at parking issues throughout the borough.

Another complaint from residents dealt with the lack of an online payment system for the permits. Residents have to go to Phoenixville Borough Hall between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Borough Hall stayed open late one night in early January to allow residents to stop in for permits.

Cost was also an issue for the two residents who spoke at the meeting. The residential permits are $15 per year, and Rexroat said it’s unfair that residents are being charged to park in front of their own homes.

Later on in the evening of the January council meeting, Police Chief William Mossman said residents of Hall and Church streets in the permit areas actually have an advantage over other residents.

“Every foot of roadway in the borough is a public roadway,” Mossman said.

He explained that the residents were actually getting their streets turned into “almost private parking” as only residents can park there for more than two hours during the designated times.

The permits will hopefully help quell the amount of out-of-towners parking on Hall and Church streets to go to the downtown shops and restaurants, Mossman said.

The new rules went into effect on Feb. 1 and residents hoping to get permits must have the following, in addition to the $15 fee:

• Current vehicle registration
• Vehicle Identification Number
• Proof that they live in a residence in the 200 or 300 block of Hall or Church streets
• A valid driver’s license

Two residential permits will be issued per household. Contractor, visitor and temporary permits are also available for $5 each and the rules for those vary and can be found in this notice to residents. Residents should also note that the borough is not guaranteeing that residents will get a parking spot in residential zone A or in front of their homes at all times.

For more information, visit the Phoenixville Borough website’s parking page.

At the January meeting, several members of council made it clear that the program is still a work in progress, and even though the ordinance has been passed, it may be amended.