Selectmen approve traffic ordinance amendments, including no-parking zone on View Street

The First Selectmans board on Aug. 27 approved a package of traffic-ordinance amendments after town engineers recommended removing curbside parking in several narrow locations to improve safety.

Engineering staff told the board that the roadway design manual requires roughly 26 feet of clear roadway to allow parking on both sides; multiple local streets fall below that standard. Gabriela, an engineering reviewer, said surveys showed roadway widths as low as 23 feet on parts of View Street, and recommended removing parking on one side for about 125 feet and posting signage that also respects the 25-foot state statute distance from stop signs. The board moved and approved the amendment (PSP-2026-005) to prohibit parking in the designated View Street stretch.

Board members and residents expressed sympathy for motorists and business owners who would lose informal spaces. The First Selectman said the department would try to identify replacement spaces where possible and will contact CTDOT about restriping on state-owned Post Road where widening is not feasible. Chief Jim Bonnie said engineers did the field work and the changes followed that safety analysis. Lauren Raven moved the motion to approve the View Street amendment; Rachel Conn seconded and the vote was unanimous.

The session also addressed parking, stopping and standing prohibitions on Field Point Road toward Belle Haven to prevent commercial vehicles and early-morning staging near residences. That amendment (PSP-2026-012) was moved, seconded and approved by the same unanimous vote. The board said it will continue outreach with affected residents and businesses before final sign installation.