Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews resident‑parking survey and proposes ordinance changes; moves amended ordinance to July 6
Summary
Groton staff presented results of a resident‑parking survey (332 responses); council discussed 24/7 vs. timed zones, guest passes, business/employee permits, permit duration, colored-curb definitions and enforcement and moved an amended parking ordinance and fee schedule to the July 6 meeting for required second reading.
City staff presented results from a resident-only parking survey that drew 332 responses (about 99% from Groton residents). Survey highlights shared with the council included: 72% of respondents favored resident-only parking on their streets; responses were roughly split between 24/7 resident-only and time-limited resident-only approaches; 66% opposed enforcement on weekends and holidays; and a range of operational concerns were raised, including visitor passes, permit counts, enforcement levels and parking availability for deliveries, contractors and overnight guests.
Councilors and staff discussed a proposed ordinance structure that divides the city into two zones: a beach zone (Zone 1) proposed as 24/7 resident-only and a central zone (Zone 2) proposed as resident-only during specified hours on weekdays. Proposed ordinance changes reviewed included: definitions for colored curb markings, authorization for the mayor and council to designate resident parking areas by resolution, a prohibition on parking large commercial vehicles in residential zones beyond a short working window, allowance for business employee parking permits in parts of Zone 2, and changing resident sticker issuance so all legally registered household vehicles receive a permit (rather than the current two-vehicle limit). Staff recommended removing a proposed fee for resident stickers and changing permit validity from annual to a two-year cycle to reduce administrative burden.
The council discussed implementation details, including online permit issuance, guest pass limits, accommodations for residents living on streets with no permitted parking, and a short-term displacement concern if Electric Boat (EB) builds a garage on existing lots. After discussion, the council voted unanimously to move the amended ordinance and a companion resolution establishing parking fees to the July 6 mayor-and-council meeting for the required second reading and formal adoption process.
Next steps: staff will publish the proposed ordinance in the July 6 packet and accept public comment at the required two mayor-and-council sessions; staff will also develop an online permit process and final fee schedule for council review.
