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Uxbridge committee rejects on‑street parking on Blackstone Street; recommends off‑street options and environmental survey
Summary
Residents and staff agreed on safety concerns with on‑street parking on Blackstone Street to access Cormier Woods and urged off‑street parking or directional signage. Committee members flagged steep grade changes, wetland buffers and a potential rare‑plant habitat and recommended a biologist survey before any lot or permitting is pursued.
Phil, a resident and former selectman who spoke to the committee about access to Cormier Woods, asked whether on‑street parking on Blackstone Street could be permitted to let visitors use a family‑owned parcel to reach a trail. He framed the request as a search for safe, practical access options and said his family considered signage or creating a small lot but worried about hazards on the narrow roadway.
Committee members and town staff rejected on‑street parking on safety grounds. Phil asked rhetorically, “what happens if a kid opens a door and walks into Blackstone Street?” and said he could not in good conscience recommend parking along the road. Public Works staff and other panelists warned that the street is narrow, vehicles sometimes exceed the posted speed, and roadside shoulders and drainage make street parking unsafe.
Beyond safety, staff raised environmental and permitting constraints. The committee reviewed town GIS and Natural Heritage mapping showing wet areas and potential rare‑species habitat near the proposed south end. Public Works noted a three‑foot grade change between the road and adjacent field and said constructing a stable driveway or lot would require engineering, culverts, and drainage work. Committee members recommended a conservative path: first commission a biologist or ecologist to survey the parcel for state‑listed habitat or species, and only then evaluate off‑street lot siting and engineering options.
Town staff suggested two short‑term options for landowners: post directional signage guiding visitors to existing parking at Cormier Woods/Chapin Street, or develop a small, privately funded gravel parking area on the north end of the field that avoids wetlands and buffer zones. The committee emphasized that any private work must meet conservation and engineering requirements and could trigger state permitting if priority habitat or riverfront buffer zones are affected.
The committee did not take a formal vote on a town‑funded improvement; members agreed the town will not authorize on‑street parking on Blackstone Street. Next steps identified by the panel: the landowner or Cormier Woods should consider a preliminary biological survey, follow up with Public Works on engineering feasibility for a north‑end lot, and consult conservation staff before seeking state permits.
