What: parking congestion and poor sight lines on Smith Street near a multi-tenant commercial building and the adjoining side streets.
Where it stands: On 2026-11-04 the Council sent the parking problem to its ordinance committee, voted to write the state Department of Transportation, and asked the building owner to attend next month.
Next: Letter to the Department of Transportation, owner invited to the December meeting, police monitoring of the corner.
Details
Neighbors told the Council that parked cars and a utility pole block the view when pulling out of side streets, and that there have been near misses. Members agreed there is a long-standing parking problem and noted the existing no-parking sign on Smith Street was placed by the state, a state road.
Several members said parking is not a legal basis for denying a liquor license, which the Council was considering the same night for a nearby business; the license was approved. The business's representative said it received a parking variance from the zoning board because it operates at different hours from its neighbors, and that a second no-parking sign on a side street was a condition of that approval.
Councilors noted that shared on-street parking in the commercial village zone allowed multiple tenants in the building; the nearby lot owner declined to allow parking. Police agreed to have patrol officers watch the corner for violations.
Ideas raised: extend the no-parking zone near the corner (state road), a mirror on a pole, and a traffic signal (called unlikely).
Voice votes: send the Smith Street parking problem to the ordinance committee; send a letter to the Department of Transportation asking for a review; ask the building owner to come in next month. Police to monitor the corner.