Leonia amends controversial road closure ordinance to boost business

LEONIA — The borough amended its controversial road closure ordinance on Monday to clarify that non-residents heading to or from Leonia destinations are allowed to use all side streets at all times despite restrictions on rush-hour traffic.

The clarification follows weeks of backlash from borough business owners who have complained that Leonia’s Safe Streets program, which closes off 60 residential to commuter traffic from the George Washington Bridge, has cost them customers.

“We said all along that this would be an iterative process and that we would make revisions to the plan based on data,” Mayor Judah Zeigler wrote in a statement. “Clearly, the public doesn’t understand that all of our streets are open at any time to anyone traveling to or from a Leonia destination. This revision simply makes it clear that Leonia is, as always, open for business.”

Zeigler did not attend Monday’s meeting but introduced a draft of new signage last month that will replace “overly foreboding” "Do Not Enter" signs on the affected streets with “Residents and Leonia Destinations Only” signs.

The borough has removed several "Do Not Enter" signs throughout Leonia in preparation for the installation of the new signs at the end of next week. Brian Chewcaskie, the borough attorney, said the new signage has been vetted by the Police Department and approved by a judge.

To further boost business in the downtown, Zeigler has also proposed installing a banner across Broad Avenue welcoming visitors to Leonia and declaring that the borough is open for business. The Borough Council is also considering new signs directing shoppers to free parking at a lot on Elm Place.

Business owners have been vocal in their opposition to the road closures since they took effect in late January, first crowding into council meetings to denounce the Safe Streets program and then rallying in front of Borough Hall to call for a reduction in the program's hours.

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The new traffic rules are in effect nine hours a day, from 6 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. The borough’s main thoroughfares — Fort Lee Road, Broad Avenue and Grand Avenue — are exempt from the restrictions.

On Monday, though the council chambers were nearly empty, the council agreed to host three forums for business owners to discuss their concerns on all issues affecting the downtown. The forums will be held at three different times — on a workday, on a weeknight and on a weekend — by the end of the month.

“It seems like now is the opportune time to get moving on getting that feedback, quantifying it,” said Alex Torpey, the borough administrator.

The Police Department continues to issue warnings to drivers who violate the road closures, said Councilwoman Maureen Davis, chairwoman of the police commission. It has yet to issue any tickets.

Email: shkolnikova@northjersey.com