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Council installs no‑parking and short‑term parking on Lawn Avenue after safety concerns
Summary
After neighbors and police raised safety concerns about student overflow parking during school construction, the council unanimously approved no‑parking on one side of Lawn Avenue and short‑term parking on the other.
The Cumberland Town Council voted unanimously on March 23 to post no‑parking on the north side of Lawn Avenue (from the Food Stop parking lot to Maple Street) and to designate a short‑term parking zone on the opposite side.
Police Chief Ramsey (S13) briefed the council on repeated blockages that narrow the roadway—particularly in winter when snowbanks further reduce width—and presented a recommended signage scheme: no parking on the Food Stop side where deliveries and emergency access are impeded, and a 30‑minute limit on the opposite side to allow customer turnover without long‑term student parking. "That would allow overflow parking from the Food Stop parking lot if there are people that need to park over on that side of the road to run in and pick up their lunch and then take off," the chief said.
Nearby resident Shauna Larrabee (S14) told the council the changes would help neighbors but warned that displaced cars could move onto adjacent streets. Councilors discussed enforcement, communication with the school for encouragement of bus use, and possible spillover; staff said signage will be installed and the town will coordinate notification with the school district. The motion to post signs and set the 30‑minute zone was moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
The council asked the chief and staff to monitor adjacent streets after implementation and to return with adjustments if the change simply moves the problem rather than resolving safety concerns.
