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Commission reopens Crescent Avenue sidewalk plan after residents object to losing parking
Summary
After resident turnout and a legal check, the Chelsea Traffic and Parking Commission agreed to reopen the public hearing and defer final action on a plan to build sidewalks and remove parking on Crescent Avenue; staff said the design would remove parking from one side to make an 8‑ft ADA sidewalk and narrow travel lanes to slow traffic.
The Chelsea Traffic and Parking Commission on Feb. 3 reopened public comment and delayed final action on a proposal to add sidewalks and remove on‑street parking along the even side of Crescent Avenue between Lewis and Carroll streets.
Elias, the city presenter, said the project — scheduled for construction in the summer and expected to take about two months — would add an 8‑foot sidewalk on the southeast portion where driveways are present and keep parking on the northwest side where driveways are minimal. "We're trying to maintain a sidewalk to keep it safe for pedestrians," Elias said, saying the design narrows travel lanes to reduce speed and provides a curb barrier between pedestrians and traffic.
Residents who showed up after the commission's initial vote urged the panel to reconsider. "I'm feeling like our voice here doesn't matter," Melanie Lee told commissioners during public comment, saying neighbors felt their concerns about nighttime safety and tenant parking had not been heard. Other speakers supported sidewalks for school safety but warned that removing one side of parking would displace long‑standing tenant parking and could create hardship for families without driveways.
A motion to approve the request had been taken earlier in the meeting after no speakers attended at that time, and staff described the item as being in the design stage; construction would not start until later in the season. After residents arrived, a member reported a legal opinion that allowed the commission to reopen the hearing. The commission agreed to accept additional public comment and to take up the matter again at its next monthly meeting so staff can examine alternatives — including a one‑way street study — and coordinate further with DPW.
The commission emphasized the project’s stated safety goals and the intent to preserve parking where feasible, but it will not finalize any change until members review supplemental analysis and public input next month.
