Residents in a downtown neighborhood argue that existing problems with parking tickets and enforcement should be solved before the city of Concord makes changes to parking rules on side streets in the South End.
The purpose of the Monday night meeting was to solicit feedback on the city’s early recommendations for potential parking bans on narrow downtown streets in the area between Pleasant, South Spring, West and South State streets where current parking makes it difficult for ambulances and snowplows to maneuver. Director of Redevelopment Matt Walsh presented early recommendations for banning winter parking, limiting parking to one side, or banning parking altogether on some streets.
Concord’s Parking Committee began a review of narrow downtown streets in 2017 and determined that about 84 out of the 143 streets studied have safety or winter plowing issues. The city defines a narrow street as is one that leaves less than 12 feet of space available for traffic when cars are parked, according to the definition in the city’s Code of Ordinances.
The narrow side streets between Pleasant Street and West Street to the south represent the last of four narrow street zones under review for parking changes. The city dubbed the neighborhood Wall Street, although some of the residents at the Monday night parking forum referred to the area near the Capitol Center for the Arts and the Concord Community Music School as Concord’s “theater district.”
Resident Nancy Weston expressed concern about the proposal to limit parking on one side of Perley Street between South and State streets, potentially pushing people to park on surrounding streets, where she is already frustrated with people blocking her driveway with their cars.
“Where are they all going to park?” said Weston. She and some of her neighbors were frustrated about cars parked illegally under existing rules on their streets, and said police don’t do enough to ticket or tow.
“They won’t do anything,” Weston said. “That’s what they tell me.”
Walsh acknowledged that neighborhood enforcement was a problem. The Parking Division, which is part of the Concord Police Department, is missing staff because of vacant positions. “Technically we should have seven, right now I have funding for five and right now I have three. So it’s tough,” Walsh said.
People who live and work downtown also brought up the idea of residential parking permits for streets with metered parking. One man said he currently pays $1,500 a year to park downtown, where he works. Residents also asked the city to paint parking spaces to emphasize where people can and cannot park under current rules, which Walsh said the city will do once road paint becomes available after supply chain issues.
Mayor Jim Bouley, who also sits on the Parking Committee, spoke up near the end of the meeting to push back against a resident’s suggestion that the city was just going through the motions of gathering community input.
“I want you all to know that that is incorrect, 150%. You have six councilors all sitting around the table tonight, all listening intently to exactly what you have to say,” Bouley said. “The purpose of the meeting was to get your feedback. We don’t have to do anything if you don’t want us to do anything.”
For the next steps in the process, members of the Parking Committee will drive through the streets to develop their questions and add their own recommendations.
“This process is designed to get the maximum input from you folks, as well as use the expertise of our safety services staff, the Fire Department in particular, the Police Department, and so forth,” said At-Large Councilor Byron Champlin, the chair of the Parking Committee.
After another forum for community members in the neighborhood, the committee will issue a recommendation to the City Council, which will hold a public hearing before approving new parking bans or rules.
“We have to make some changes,” said Ward 6 Councilor Linda Kenison, who also sits on the Parking Committee. “I think you all want that. If your house was burning you would want a fire truck to be able to get there.”