Resident urges no-parking zone on Zion Road as Jersey Cow overflow raises safety concerns

A Northfield resident asked the City Council on May 19 to adopt a no-parking designation on both sides of Zion Road from Tilton Road to Fuae Avenue, saying customer overflow from Jersey Cow Ice Cream has turned a residential street into a de facto commercial lot.

"I am asking Northfield City Council to implement a No Parking Designation on both sides of Zion Road from Tilton Road to Fuae Avenue," said Christine Thompson, a neighbor who delivered a prepared statement describing repeated late-night parking, noise and litter that she said have diminished her family's enjoyment of their property. Thompson told council that Zion Road was designed as a residential county throughway and said lighting and safety are inadequate for high-turnover commercial parking.

Council members did not vote on an ordinance but discussed next steps: Mayor Erland V. L. Chau said he had met with police and observed the parking issues firsthand and Council President Bucci recalled that a draft ordinance had been prepared in 2023 but was not introduced. Solicitor Facenda said he would research whether the county or the city has authority to make parking designations on Zion Road; Engineer Nassar offered to inspect the stretch before the next meeting.

Council members also raised alternatives residents suggested, including resident permit parking and requests to the county for signage or lighting. No formal action or ordinance introduction was recorded at the work session; council directed staff to gather details and return with options at a future meeting.