Following repeated protests voiced by residents of the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood at a meeting of Princeton Council Monday night, the governing body agreed to hold off on an ordinance concerning overnight parking and permits.

The ordinance is part of an effort to harmonize regulations of the former Borough and Township. Residents of areas in the old Township section С on Birch Avenue, Leigh Avenue, Race, and John Streets С would be required to begin paying $120 a year for overnight on-street parking permits (a concession would be made for low income residents who qualify for certain programs). They would also follow the former Borough’s regulations regarding the number of permits available to households.

“You’ve unified Princeton but the neighborhoods are not uniform,” said Leigh Avenue resident Cheryl Whitney, among those who felt the proposed regulations were unfair. “You really need to do more work if you want the harmonization to work.”

“Go back to the drawing board,” one member of the public shouted. “Don’t talk down to us,” called out another.

The town recently launched a study to look at several issues related to parking, hiring Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates of Boston to lead the effort. The transportation firm held an open house last week and is seeking feedback from residents.

Clarifying the focus of the study after some at the public hearing suggested that downtown merchants were being favored over residents, municipal engineer Deanna Stockton explained that it is being funded by a federal grant focused on how to maintain and boost the economic vitality of the town.

One resident of Pine Street, in the “tree streets” neighborhood where parking is also an issue, said he worries what will happen if his grown children move home with their cars. During a recent visit, his son had to park in the Spring Street garage overnight and pay $23, he said.

Another resident who lives on the former Township side of Leigh Avenue commented, “Every person in the neighborhood is vehemently opposed” to the ordinance. “We are not downtown Princeton. We never would have bought in this neighborhood if we thought we could only have one car. There are tons of parking spots on the street. The ordinance is creating a huge problem for people with small children and the elderly.”

Most Council members said it would be best to wait until the parking study is completed before a decision on the ordinance is made. But Councilwoman Heather Howard commented that the governing body needs to acknowledge that the study might not answer all of the questions being addressed, and that harmonization of the ordinances might not work. “It will not be a failure if we do not harmonize and do not change,” she said.

Councilman Tim Quinn expressed similar sentiments, commenting that coming growth of the town and more affordable housing units will change things. “I would support putting this off and looking at areas of density, where houses pre-dated the widespread use of automobiles, and try to come up with something that works,” he said. “I think the time is right for rethinking the whole thing.”

Mayor Liz Lempert ended the discussion by saying, “This conversation will be contInued. I think it was clear tonight that the neighbors obviously have a lot to say, and a lot of positive input that can be put into getting a solution that’s going to work for everybody.”