Handicapped Parking Signs Come Under Ross Officials' Microscope

Ross Township officials are taking a close look at the number of handicapped parking spots the township has approved over the years and whether some of the signs reserving those spots should come down. 

"Once they're assigned, they're endless," said Commissioner David Mikec, who has asked the township manager to research approvals given by the board. He's also asked the manager to create a list showing where and how many signs are posted around the township. 

Police Chief Robert Bellan, who reviews the requests before they go to the board, said the signs have not been tracked over the years and no comprehensive list of them exists. 

"We really have nothing for us to review as a benchmark," he told the commissioners at their meeting earlier this month. 

Mikec said a new policy may need to be developed regarding assignment of the signs. 

"It seems like it needs to be changed," Mikec said. 

The review was prompted by two recent requests by the commission's newest member, John Sponcer, for signs on Fifth Avenue and Third Street. 

Ross Township Police reviewed both requests and gave the OK for the one on Fifth Street, which will come before the township commissioners soon for their vote, Sponcer said.

Police determined the location for the sign on Third Street was too close to an intersection, and that request will not go forward, Sponcer said. 

But in the course of researching the two requests, "the question came up, 'how do we control these?'" Sponcer said. 

On First Street in Laurel Gardens, resident Donna Bauer has had a handicapped sign reserving a spot in front of her house for about 10 years. 

She said it was put in place at her family's request after her brother, a former police homicide detective, moved in after a liver transplant. 

He died about three years ago, but her father used the sign until two weeks ago, when he passed away, she said. 

The spot is also occasionally used by the family across the street when a disabled family member visits, Bauer said. It also gets use because the spot is close to the American Legion, but she said she would have no objections if the township decided to remove it. 

“It would probably make it easier if I have to park on the street,” she said. “If it has to come down, it has to come down.”

"It served its purpose when we truly, truly needed it," she said. 

How easy should it be to reserve such a spot on residential streets? Is there a reserved spot near you? Help us crowd-source their locations: tell us where a sign exists and how often it is used.