Woburn traffic panel declines curbside handicap parking request for Mann’s Court

The Woburn Traffic Commission on March 21 voted to send a letter to a petitioner requesting a curbside handicap parking space at 9 Mann’s Court, saying the street’s physical constraints make on‑street handicap parking unsafe and impractical.

Commissioners and staff reviewed street measurements and on‑site photos and noted Mann’s Court is a dead‑end, heavily used by deliveries from nearby businesses, and measured by one participant at about 17 feet wide. One participant estimated the grade at roughly 7½–8 percent, raising concerns about ADA slope limits and safe curbside access. An unidentified commissioner who moved the motion said the roadway “does not provide for safe and adequate flow of traffic along Mann’s Court. Therefore, we cannot support” the request.

The commission discussed possible alternatives, including use of the resident’s driveway or a city property across the street, but speakers noted those options are farther from the house and that the commission does not have authority over private parking lots (such as nearby Bayberry/Bishop’s private lots). Commissioners also raised the risk of queuing onto Main Street, blocking traffic and hindering emergency‑vehicle access. One participant recommended painting diagonal boxes on Main Street to reduce blocking at the Mann’s Court intersection, but members agreed that would be a separate, longer conversation.

After the motion to send a denial letter (moved by an unidentified speaker and seconded), commissioners agreed the letter should also explicitly cite emergency‑vehicle access concerns. The commission then voted to place the matter on file after sending the communication to the petitioner.

Votes in the meeting were conducted by voice; formal tallies were not recorded in the transcript. The commission recommended staff (the planning director) work with the mover on the precise wording of the letter. The item will return to the record only if the petitioner submits additional information or if the Commission on Disability or staff propose an alternative solution.

The action followed an initial staff recommendation and a site feasibility discussion; commissioners emphasized practical limits rather than disputing the petitioner’s need for accessible parking.