Glen Osborne officials considering changes to borough parking

Parking changes may be coming to Glen Osborne as concerns about fitting emergency vehicles through narrow roads grow.

Council has tabled amending its parking ordinance until September to hear from residents and first responders.

Ordinance amendments include prohibiting parking on the north side of Colonial Place and the west side of Grandview Way.

Old “reserved” parking signs in residential zones would also be removed and those zones “deleted.”

The parking ordinance was listed on the July 16 meeting agenda.

Council president Thomas Huddleston said postponing action for a while will give a chance for more voices to be heard.

“A concern was raised about the ability of emergency vehicles getting through Colonial Place,” Huddleston said. “The borough, in conjunction with police and the fire department, is proposing limiting on-street parking. We deferred this until September to allow the residents a chance to present their concerns and options.”

Councilwomen Holly Merriman and Mary Scalercio were also absent from the meeting.

Brian Herskovitz, Valley Ambulance Authority and Quaker Valley Ambulance Authority EMS chief, said the parking changes are proactive and there have been no requests for ambulance service at either aforementioned streets.

“Safety must be our top priority,” Herskovitz said. “In emergency situations, any delay in response time can have critical consequences. The borough’s consideration of amending its parking ordinance to address these concerns is a necessary step toward ensuring that all emergency services can operate without hindrance.

“I encourage all community members to stay informed and participate in discussions regarding the proposed changes. It’s important that we work together to find solutions that balance the needs of residents with the imperative of maintaining safe and accessible roads for emergency services.”

Sewickley Police Department coves Glen Osborne and could issue parking violations.

Police Chief Dave Mazza said he shares the same concerns as his emergency response counterparts even though there are no issues getting police vehicles through borough roads.

“All three entities work together, so what affects them would potentially affect us and vice versa,” Mazza said. “We get called to every medical call and every fire call.”

The proposed amendments are available for review at the borough office.

Council plans to take action at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Osborne Elementary School.