The Sussex County Commissioners have introduced an ordinance to establish fees for the Newton parking garage. The proposed charges include 50 cents per half-hour with a maximum of 10 hours, and monthly passes available for $120 during specific time slots. The ordinance also plans to relocate electric vehicle charging stations outside the garage, reducing the number of charging units to two. Fees for these stations will range from $0.40 to $0.80 per kWh.
The ordinance will be open for public hearing on July 10, after which it could be approved by a majority vote. The proposal was amended before being brought up for a vote, moving the charging stations and parking for electric vehicles to an outdoor area adjacent to the three-story garage.
"The original idea was to have four charging stations, but they initially decided on two stations. Additionally, as safety issues with EV batteries are reduced and eliminated, parking for these vehicles could be created within the structure," said Commissioner Jill Space to the NJ Herald.
The ordinance is part of a package that includes two separate regulations: one that establishes the fee system and another that authorizes the establishment of paid parking spaces in the garage through fees or permits.