City to post temporary no‑parking signs on Vernon Street for trial

City staff said they will install temporary no‑parking signage on Vernon Street next week to test a one‑side parking restriction after residents described regular blockages and safety concerns.

Councilor Deborah Clemmer and other commissioners said neighbors reported narrow travel lanes, blocked driveways and situations that could impede emergency vehicles. Clemmer told the commission she had spoken to multiple constituents and recommended extending the no‑parking pilot up to house number 40, at which point a fire hydrant already prohibits parking.

Residents who spoke during the meeting said students parking in the neighborhood and use of nearby streets as cut-throughs have increased congestion. "Getting along Vernon Street, you are just winding like this around cars," resident Sophie said. Another resident, Caitlin Carvalho, said parked cars frequently block access to driveways: "If there's a car parked on the opposite side of the street and two cars parked on either side of my driveway, I can barely navigate my car."

Staff said a temporary posting would be an enforcement matter for parking control and police once signs are in place. The city estimated the pilot would remove roughly 13 parking spaces if the restriction runs from Elm Street up to about house number 40. DPW staff said they will coordinate with Councilors Clemmer and Jarrett and monitor neighboring streets for displacement effects; several commissioners recommended running the pilot through the fall school season to collect representative data.

The Transportation and Parking Commission did not take a formal vote on an ordinance at the meeting; staff intends to post temporary signs and report results to the commission.