A matter of parking: Neighborhood dispute may have political edge

Town officials issued a summons to Joseph Tocker last week claiming that his driveways were illegal and that signs posted against parking in front of his houses have irked neighbors. The 70-year-old Tocker has lived in the house for 35 years and is asking why. “Parking is a premium in that area,” said Construction Code official Joe Monteleone, who said he has attempted to solve what has become an irksome battle between Tocker and his First Avenue neighbors, some of whom believe Tocker has taken more than his share. First Avenue, which runs parallel to Paterson Plank Road from the Roosevelt Avenue section of town to the Plaza near the library, has long been a destination for commuters. Before the town instituted residential parking permits, people from Bergen County used it for all-day parking. Even now, Secaucus residents from other parts of town who commute to New York park there, then walk a block to the Plaza bus station to catch the 190 to New York City. Tocker said he has had a dispute with the town over his fence as well, one that separates his property from Buchmuller Park next door. He said he fears the kids and has seen problems in the park. Neighbors claim Tocker has set up at virtual monopoly on his side of the street, with two curb cuts and a stretch of curb where he parks routinely. They say he calls the police each time someone dares park in front of his house. But Tocker says he needs the parking, although one of his cars has not been moved in some time, and the other curb cut leads to property which cannot be driven on. “That’s the problem,” Monteleone said. “On one side, he parks cars right in front of the house, [and] on the others side, he has a curb cut leading to property that can’t be used for cars.” Monteleone said both are currently in violation of the zoning ordinance. “To meet the requirements he would have to pave one side and widen it,” Monteleone said. “As for the other side [where a car is currently parked], he would have to seek a variance from the board of adjustment – something I think they would not give him.” Tocker said that when Paul Amico was mayor, his block had asphalt for sidewalks, and he could park his car in front of the house or on either side. “When the town came in to install new sidewalks and curbs, they asked me if I wanted curb cuts for my driveways and I said yes,” Tocker said. “Now they’re telling me my driveways are illegal. If they were illegal, why did the town install the curb cuts in the first place?” Town officials admit the installation was a mistake – though some officials who wished to remain unnamed claim Tocker, a supporter of the previous administration, was issued the curb cuts as a political favor, one the new administration is not willing to honor. Tocker claims it is political influence that has suddenly caused the construction code office to crack down. He claims one of the families on the block is extremely close to members of the new administration and that these people sometimes park as many as seven vehicles – including at least four sport utility vehicles (SUVs) – on the street. “Those are the people who want me to take down my signs and stop calling the police when they park in front of my driveways,” Tocker said. He claims the police have refused to issue tickets. Monteleone said the police couldn’t issue tickets if the driveways are not legitimate. A letter issued on Feb. 14 from the police department said the building department had reviewed the matter and instructed the police department to issue no summonses at that location because neither space is considered a driveway. The area around First Avenue has a history of parking disputes, especially among the merchants who have asked Town Hall numerous times to install parking meters along the Little League field to keep commuters from using it as all-day parking before boarding the bus to Manhattan. Residents in the neighborhood have seen SUVs heading up their street to get to parking so the drivers can go to New York. Many of the vehicles have residential parking permits from other areas of town, they say.