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Residents urge Clifton council to address Ayre Square crowding, parking and curbside traffic
Summary
At the May 6 meeting, multiple residents complained of crowding, public drinking and traffic backups in Ayre Square tied to a restaurant’s curbside pickup; the council asked staff to contact police and businesses and agreed on follow-up outreach.
Several Clifton residents told the Town Council May 6 that Ayre Square has become crowded since businesses shifted to takeout, raising safety, parking and noise concerns.
Jennifer Heilmann said the square attracts large crowds when the weather is nice and that she had observed numerous cars parking in the flood-plain lot; she suggested the town consider closing some public parking or installing temporary distancing signage. Marilyn Barton, the Town Treasurer, said she observed loud race cars parked at Clifton House "racing around through Town" and said Villagio’s curbside pickup configuration was causing traffic backups on Chapel Road, adding, "It seemed like it was a group that moved in concert." Laura McDonald said people were loitering and drinking near the caboose and that street parking near her home has been problematic.
Council members discussed enforcement and business impacts. Vice Mayor Steve Effros proposed drafting a letter to the police department to request more supervision on weekend evenings; Councilmember Regan McDonald said he had called the Sully Station police department’s non-emergency line about alcohol consumption near the caboose. Councilmember Darrell Poe suggested asking businesses to encourage customers to wait in their cars for takeout; Vice Mayor Effros agreed to reach out to Villagio’s manager Marcus Silva about moving the curbside pickup point, and Councilmember McDonald said he would contact a local motorcycle club about engine noise.
Mayor Bill Hollaway said the Town had not closed Ayre Square because doing so could push customers onto already-crowded sidewalks: "The Town has not closed Ayre Square because it would lead to people waiting for take-out on crowded sidewalks." The council did not adopt an immediate regulatory change at this meeting but agreed to follow up with the police department and local businesses and to return the matter for further action if needed.
Next steps recorded in the minutes include the vice mayor drafting a letter to police, Councilmember McDonald contacting the motorcycle club, and discussions with Villagio management about altering pickup operations.
