Ban on lawn parking sought on game days

For years, residents near the stadium, especially on North Street, have been allowed to park as many as 10 vehicles on their property for a fee without a commercial license. It started soon after the stadium was built and visitors sought cheaper alternatives to parking in stadium lots.

“If you wanted to charge, you just did,’’ Selectwoman Lynda Walsh said at a board meeting last week. “My grandmother charged $5.’’

But town officials say some residents on North Street have abused the 10-car-or-fewer rule by parking too many vehicles, while others in nearby neighborhoods have jumped into the cash-for-parking business. That has resulted in a dramatic spike of vehicles on the side roads that adversely affect those who live there, officials said.

“Drive down North Street, and see people who have started large ‘commercial’ lots with 40 to 50 cars,’’ said Town Manager Kevin Paicos, who has proposed a new ordinance banning such unlicensed parking altogether. “The chief of police tries enforcement, but people say, ‘That’s my cousin Bob’s car and those are his three kids’.’ ’’

There’s no way to know who is and isn’t being charged for parking, he said, nor who is or isn’t a family member or friend. Meanwhile, there is increasing concern among town officials over liability issues, ranging from ambulances being unable to navigate to where they need to go, to drivers steering their vehicles over private property without permission.

Paicos said the town can amend the existing written regulation, adopt a new bylaw at Town Meeting, or both. The proposed parking bylaw calls for a $100 penalty for each car in violation and would be enforced by the town’s building commissioner and police. A public hearing will be scheduled soon.

“This may appear Draconian, and it is,’’ said Building Commissioner William Casbarra, who looked at alternatives to the ban with Paicos and Police Chief Edward O’Leary. Ultimately, the three officials decided there are none.

“This year an awful lot of people thumbed their noses at us, and now it’s pay-the-piper time,’’ Casbarra said. “It’s over.’’

One measure they are considering, the men said, is to block side roads near the stadium to prevent access by visitors. But the town would have to post police cruisers at each junction or drivers would just move barriers aside or go around them. That would be expensive and not the best use of resources, they said.

Another suggestion is to reduce the allowed number of vehicles that could be parked on a property from 10 to five, they said. But if residents aren’t abiding by the rules with the larger number, it’s not likely they will conform to the smaller number, Paicos said.

Members of the Route 1 Business Association, including the group’s chairman, Mike Stanton, said a ban is the only fair way to go. “The bottom line is, the town’s been put on notice that they have sanctioned an activity in a residential area that is not allowed,’’ Stanton said. “If there is an incident, you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.’’

Officials for years have discussed the fact that the 10-car-or-fewer rule conflicts with the zoning law, but now seem ready to take action. If the new initiative is approved by Town Meeting, all such parking would be banned.

No opponents or representatives from the neighborhood spoke up at the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday. In the past, some North Street residents have said they depend on the income from parking to help make ends meet. For some, the cash is Christmas money.

The proposed ban was received cautiously by four of the five selectmen; the fifth, James DeVellis, recused himself because he lives in the area.

Walsh and Selectman Mark Sullivan agreed that the town needs to protect itself from liability situations, but also questioned the fairness of banning parking during stadium events when many residents let family and friends use their properties as a home base. Others might be having family parties, they said.

“We are not talking about parking lots - these are people’s homes,’’ Walsh said.

Still, said Sullivan, “This is not fair to those who pay a fee to run a commercial site.’’

Those include businessmen like Greg Spier, whose licensed lot is south of the stadium on Washington Street.

“We pay the equivalent of $42 a parking space to the town and state,’’ he said. “We don’t mind the competition, but it’s unfair when they don’t have a port-o-can, no fire extinguishers, no lighting.’’

Some people who park in private lots use nearby woods as a bathroom, he said. “It’s totally out of control.’’

Sullivan suggested allowing residents to buy stickers to identify family members’ vehicles. But Paicos said that a way can be found around anything and that such a measure is unenforceable.

“We have seen people so brazen they hold up signs, while others have charged people to park on the public road,’’ he said. “Some who are from out of town don’t know any better.’’

Selectmen chairman Larry Harrington suggested that a meeting be scheduled with North Street residents to discuss the concerns.

“No one is saying friends and family can’t come to your house,’’ Harrington said. “But this has to be resolved before the season starts.’’

Michele Morgan Bolton can be reached at michelebolton@live.com.