The Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners has postponed a decision on the proposed vehicle parking changes on Quarry Street, Hokendauqua, until May 5. The proposed creation of a no-parking zone will affect residents of River Vu Condos and people whose homes are on Front Street with their back yard driveways facing Quarry Street.

The board scrapped a vote on Monday's meeting agenda that would have established no-parking zones along both sides of Quarry Street, between 140 feet north of North Street and 390 feet south to its end, and North Street, between North Front Street and Quarry Street.

Following the board's April 7 workshop, at which residents supporting and opposing the proposal packed the township meeting hall, board members and the administration took another look at the problem.

Some took the stance that the parking spaces are needed, while others had the opinion that cars parked in that area pose a safety hazard.

Whitehall Township Fire Chief Robert Benner sent a fire truck to the neighborhood to determine if the fire department could quickly reach the homes and condos in the event of a fire.

A compromise solution presented by township surveyor Carl Lagler received support from the commissioners, administration and the residents present during a discussion at the meeting that lasted more than an hour as the board listened to the residents' concerns,

The vote on the Quarry Street matter, which is expected to bring a close to the controversy, will occur before the commissioners' workshop, at 6:30 p.m. May 5.

Dubbed "seasonal parking," vehicles parking on the east side of Quarry Street, where the condos are located, will have eight spaces. However, between Nov. 25 and April 1, when snow and icy surfaces make the presence of parked cars there hazardous, there will be a ban on parking. Condo residents have a lower parking lot for their use, facing the Ironton Rail Trail and Lehigh River.

Board Vice President Philip Ginder questioned if the township will line and stripe the parking spaces. The street will be posted however, it was noted. There are 15 condo units.

Quarry Street, which condo resident Gloria Reinert objected to being referred to as an alley on the agenda sheet, runs from Hokendauqua Street on the north end to a dead end, a block down from North Street. Most residents utilize North Street as access to their residences.

"This is a good thing," board President Linda Snyder said of the compromise. Snyder said the board and she did not know of the temporary no-parking signs which went up after an earlier snow.

Residents on North Front Street expressed concerns about snow piled up at the edge of North Street, and said because of the slope in the back of their homes, backing out on ice-covered driveways created a problem when vehicles were parked at the condos on Quarry Street.

"I applaud your compromise," Hozza said. "See how it works." He spoke of an insurance company audit of the township that evaluated the maneuverability of fire trucks and emergency vehicles in neighborhoods.

"We'll make it work," Benner said, when asked if the fire department could respond without any problem if a fire broke out in the Quarry Street neighborhood.

When a Front Street resident called the compromise "putting a Band-Aid over the problem," officials and residents in the audience objected to that characterization.

"I'm willing to bet my reputation, we will be able to handle it," Benner said of a fire situation.

Commissioner Phillips Armstrong said he drove to Quarry Street Sunday after dark to get his own take on the issue.

"Let's give it a shot," he said Monday.

Commissioner Gerard Palagonia, who was also at the site earlier and talked to people there, backed the compromise as well.

"I believe if we all work together, this parking will work," he said.

The legislation will be drafted to reflect the compromise.