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Hillsdale's governing body has prohibited parking on half the borough's streets and ordered other measures to control -- and ban -- non-resident traffic during the next three weekends.
The borough's 10,000 or so residents will be required to show their driver's licenses or "suitable ID" with their addresses to be able to pass certain barricades, said Mayor Doug Frank.
"The safety of both our residents and the visitors to the farm is at risk," Frank said after he and council members adopted a resolution directing police to close certain streets and ban parking on others on an emergency basis.
"This will be done on all streets west of Pascack Road in Hillsdale" on three straight weekends: Saturday and Sunday Oct. 22-23, Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 5-6 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., said Frank, who issued a map showing where borough police will be posted.
On the far west neighborhoods, Royal Park Terrace and Melville Road will be totally closed at the intersection with Werimus Road and Overlook, the mayor said.
Craig Road at Werimus Road will be the only way to get in and out of those neighborhoods, he said.
Streets to the east of Werimus Road down to Pascack Road will also be closed to all but local traffic.
"Residents will be required to show their driver’s license or suitable ID with their address to pass barricades at the entrance to these streets," Frank said. "The barricades will be manned by both local and county police officers.
"If you have visitors or have someone dropping something or someone off at your home, please advise them of these changes," the mayor added. "They will have to give your name and address and phone number to get access to the streets.
"They will not be able to park on the street."
The mayor also said to "expect traffic jams and some gridlock until the potential visitors to the farm learn of the limited parking that will be available."
As the number of "pick your own" farms has dwindled over the years, Demarest Farms has become a more popular destination for customers from North Jersey, Rockland County and elsewhere.
"We will be working with Demarest Farm to mitigate the situation as best we can," the mayor said. "We will be coordinating with our emergency services teams to insure that they will be able to respond in this area.
"While we know this creates a lot of inconvenience for our residents and those who visit our town," he added, "it is obvious to the governing body that these actions are necessary to protect all.
"It is the only way to deal with the volume of traffic expected."
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