Council advances West Street no-parking ordinance after ladder-truck safety review

The West Warwick Town Council on June 2 approved the first reading of Ordinance 2026‑6, which would prohibit parking on a segment of West Street to ensure emergency vehicles can make required turns.

Councilors and staff said the traffic-safety committee, with input from Major Ketchum and Chief Veron, tested turning radii using the ladder truck — a vehicle the department identified as the largest in its fleet — and determined that restricting parking between Shippy Avenue and Armen Court was needed to allow safe egress. “We determined that a turn from Shippy Avenue onto West with the no-parking from Shippy to Armen would enable that truck,” a council speaker said during the discussion.

Councilors specifically addressed whether the ordinance was connected to a nearby development. A councilor said the original proposal for a six‑unit condominium at the stubbed section of West Street had stalled because the planned stub road does not exist; the current permitted use is a two‑unit dwelling at the Armen Court end. “As far as I was concerned, it was a dead issue,” the speaker said, adding that staff later confirmed the two‑unit dwelling is a permitted use and the no‑parking recommendation came from the traffic-safety review.

After members discussed the measurements and emergency access needs, the council took a roll-call vote: Jason, Jay, Mark, Mary Beth and the presiding member recorded votes in favor; the first reading carried and the ordinance will return for further consideration at the next step in the process.

The council took no separate action linking the ordinance to any permitting or developer approvals; members said any property development would still need to follow standard planning and building procedures.

The next formal step is the ordinance’s second reading and any additional public comment required under council rules.