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Deal officials say scrapping a vote to allow permit only parking along its waterfront streets will be determined late Thursday morning.

“We will find out from our attorney tomorrow morning how to go about doing this,” said Borough Clerk/Administrator Stephen Carasia of the legal action needed to possibly reverse the ordinance, introduced September 21.

The ordinance limits public parking on six streets east of Ocean Avenue along the beachfront between May 1 and October 31. Residents would be issued six parking permits per household, valid for one year.

But the Associated Press reported Tuesday that Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Bob Considine said the borough would table the ordinance.

“We have concerns (that) it may impact public access, and it could conflict with the agreement signed with the U.S. Army Corps project,” DEP spokesman Bob Considine told the AP. “We also simply want to ensure that we work toward providing more public access and not limiting access.”

Deal is among the last Monmouth County communities to undergo beach replenishment post Hurricane Sandy. The Army Corps of Engineer supervised the $40 million project that pumped 1.4 million cubic yards of sand between Deal and Loch Arbour.

“The vote is still on the agenda but the final agenda will not be set until late Thursday morning,” Carasia said. “We are waiting for word from our attorney on what formal action is needed to table the ordinance.”

The Asbury Park Sun has tried via email and phone messages left at borough hall to reach out to Mayor Morris Ades for comment.

The vote is slated to take place 9 a.m. Friday during the borough’s Board of Commissioner’s meeting.

A legal brief challenging the legality of the move and petitions formed by area anglers, surfers, and those in support of unfettered beach access were formed.

Members of the local Surfrider Foundation, American Littoral Society, and area fishing clubs, like the Neptune and Asbury charters, were expected to attend the meeting.

For more information on both sides of the argument, visit Change.org, Surfrider Foundation, Stripers Online, and a supporting Change.org petition. 

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The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

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