Norwich Township Establishes New (Old) Parking Rules around Ridgewood
Suggested risks to students and residents at heart of parking change
(The headline of this piece has been updated to reflect the governing body at the heart of the change and not just my jokey attempt to get you all to open the email. - Ed.)
New ‘no parking’ and ‘tow-away zone’ signs will be installed this summer on portions of Darbyshire Drive, Ridgewood Drive and Cameron Drive, closest to Ridgewood Elementary School, after action by Norwich Township trustees on May 9.
Pavement markings at ‘drop-off zones’ will also be installed.
“We will have the signs installed prior to the beginning of school,” Norwich Township Administrator Jamie Fisher said.
The new regulations will be enforced only during school hours and only on days students are in classes at Ridgewood Elementary School.
August 21 is the first day of school for students in Hilliard schools.
The new signs will be placed at three points on Darbyshire Drive, just west of Dublin Road; just west of Cameron Drive; and just east of Stellar Drive.
Another will be placed on Ridgewood Drive, just west of Dublin Road, and another on Cameron Drive just south of Ridgewood Drive.
“The board’s intentions with these changes are to continue to allow for the drop-off of students at Ridgewood Elementary, and ensure the safety of children,” Fisher said.
The new policy will be communicated to parents with assistance from Hilliard schools and Hilliard police, according to Fisher.
The re-installment of the no parking signs comes after the signs were removed in 2020 to apparently allow for student drop-offs, and after complaints from some residents living near Ridgewood Elementary School of people parking vehicles and blocking driveways and intersections.
The roads adjacent to the school are unimproved and lack curbs and sidewalks.
At the April 9 meeting of Norwich Trustees, Hilliard Superintendent David Stewart said the district has no enforcement or regulatory power concerning the manner in which people park vehicles, nor can the district compel parents or guardians to make students ride buses in lieu of private transportation.
“While we encourage parents to use a bus if it is an option, we can’t mandate it,” Stewart said.
Further, the principal at Ridgewood Elementary School has told drivers to be aware of where they park so as not to block driveways or intersections, Stewart told trustees April 9.
Dan Humphries, of Cameron Road, was among those who spoke to trustees April 9 and created a website to publish his concerns, which include drivers blocking driveways and parking close enough to intersections so as to impede the travel of commercial and emergency vehicles, according to Humphries.
A resolution authorizing the placement of the new no-parking signs was approved 3-0 on May 9, with trustees Chuck Buck, Rick Tidd and Greg Young all in support.
Buck said while he would prefer additional busing and the installation of sidewalks to encourage walking, the enhanced parking regulations should mitigate or solve the issue.