After Old Town crash, Winchester planning commission discusses permanent closure of Boscawen Street crossing through Old Town Mall

Winchester City Planning Commission members on Oct. 21 discussed whether to recommend permanently closing the Boscawen Street crossing through the Old Town Mall following a recent fatal crash in the pedestrian mall.

Commissioners described the area as the historic heart of Winchester and raised safety concerns for pedestrians and children after the weekend’s tragedy. “The walking mall must be united, and it must be made holy for pedestrians,” Commissioner Brown said, arguing that permanent closure would prioritize safety over vehicular convenience.

Several commissioners said that the initial temporary closure—bollards currently in place—was appropriate and that City Council is already scheduled to take up the issue in an upcoming meeting. Commissioners discussed how the Planning Commission could participate: some suggested appointing a planning commissioner to any city-level working group reviewing the closure, while others urged the commission to adopt a standing agenda item or otherwise reserve space on future agendas to receive updates and provide input.

Interim City Manager (referred to in the meeting as) Mr. Hoffman and planning staff outlined existing processes, including the relationship among the planning commission, public works, and the capital improvement program. Planning staff noted ongoing neighborhood design district work for Old Town and suggested that an informational work session explaining how the planning commission can interact with City Council and Public Works would be more useful than an immediate formal action by the commission.

Commissioners asked for clarity on the process for placing items on the commission’s agenda and asked staff to present an explanatory overview (suggested timing: January) about the commission’s role, notice requirements, and how planning, council, and implementation pathways interact. One commissioner proposed a retreat to clarify priorities and the procedures for adding items to agendas so the commission can respond consistently to future street-safety topics.

The commission did not take a binding vote to recommend permanent closure; instead it agreed that staff should provide an overview of the planning commission’s role and processes and that the issue be on the commission’s radar for future meetings. Commissioners were unanimous in supporting continued public engagement and encouraged planning commissioners to attend City Council meetings and any council-led public discussions on the topic.