Commission tables Ennis redevelopment loading-zone and Willow meter decisions after resident objections
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Summary
After a lengthy public hearing on parking tied to the Chelsea Ennis redevelopment, the Traffic and Parking Commission tabled approval of Central Avenue loading zones and proposed short-term meters on Willow Street to the January meeting to allow further engineering checks, a DPW trial and confirmation of tenant leases.
The Chelsea Traffic and Parking Commission on Tuesday delayed action on proposed loading zones on Central Avenue and new short-term meters on Willow Street that are part of the Chelsea Ennis redevelopment, following sustained resident concern about the loss of on-street parking.
Karen Gray, the developer’s representative, presented a revised plan that restores six permanent resident parking spaces on Willow, converts six spaces nearer to retail to two-hour meters for customer parking, and retains two daytime loading zones on Central Avenue for trash pickup and moves. "We have 14 more overnight parking spaces for residents than we had before we started this," Gray said, describing changes after curb cuts were removed in the site redesign.
Neighbors and City Councilor Joanna Recuper pushed back, saying the proposal would take needed spaces away from existing residents. "You can't take away the parking from the people that are there," Recuper said, urging commissioners to protect long-term neighborhood parking. Other residents described regular daytime and overnight shortages and questioned whether the garage and existing on-site parking would reliably serve retail and visitors.
Commissioners and staff discussed technical details — the plan shows loading-zone lengths of roughly 66 and 77 feet and designs for front-loading dumpster access — and asked the developer to confirm whether smaller loading zones would accommodate trash pickup and moving trucks. Developers said trash pickup was the primary driver and that they would consult their waste hauler about whether smaller zones would work.
Rather than decide now, the commission approved a motion to table both the Central Avenue loading-zone proposal and the Willow metered parking until the January meeting. Commissioners asked staff and the developer to: run a short-term DPW trial placing temporary loading-zone markings to test dumpster and truck access, confirm meter-hour recommendations based on likely tenants, and provide final engineering dimensions. The motion passed by voice vote (Aye). The Commission approved the October minutes later in the meeting and will revisit the Ennis items in January.
