Public works director presents concept to add roughly 52–59 parking spaces and a 5‑ft path on Lester B. Orcutt

Director of Public Works Jeff Demers detailed a phased concept for Lester B. Orcutt that would add a five-foot paved pedestrian pathway and parallel parking along the street between Ocean Avenue and 9th Street. Demers said the initial design included "52 new parallel parking spaces" tied to a five‑foot path and later referenced a 59‑space layout as staff refined the concept, and that the design seeks to avoid impacts to driveways, utility poles and mature trees.

Demers told the council that staff had cleared regulatory questions with state agencies: "City staff has discussed the design with the main DEP and confirmed no DEP permits would be required." He noted planning-board approval would be required for the nine spaces nearest Ocean Avenue because they fall within the 250‑foot shoreline zone. Demers also described the project as phasable and recommended completing "phase 1" first before considering expansion to adjacent streets (Ocean Ave, 1st, 8th and 9th). The director said using in‑house reclaimed grindings would reduce cash outlay compared with building a raised sidewalk.

The presentation prompted detailed technical questions from councilors about whether mapped parking counts were safe ("four tires off the road"), how much of the counted spaces are truly usable in peak season, and a request for street‑by‑street counts and cost breakdowns. Demers emphasized the drawing was a starting point: "It's not nothing carved in stone. It just gives this board the ability to have something to work with to start." The council did not vote on the concept; members asked staff to bring additional data and to schedule a site walk during the busy August period.