Despite reservations from the town body that typically weighs in on all parking matters in the downtown, officials have conditionally approved the conversion of a loading zone on Grove Street to three or four 2-hour spaces.
The Police Commission has granted conditional approval to convert a loading zone on Grove Street to three or four parking spaces, despite some objections raised by the Parking Commission. Credit: Michael Dinan
Advocates for the change—proposed for the area near 33 Grove St., owned by Hobbs, Inc.—at the Dec. 17 Police Commission meeting downplayed objections such as the narrowness of the road, saying that question should be left to town engineers.
A commercial real estate broker speaking in favor of the change also said it doesn’t make sense to preserve a loading zone for parents dropping off children for a music and arts therapy program on the opposite side of the street.
The Police Commission has granted conditional approval to convert a loading zone on Grove Street to three or four parking spaces, despite some objections raised by the Parking Commission. Credit: Michael Dinan
“It’s across the street, so what mother in town—other than a moron—is going to drop their child off on the parking side of the street?” the broker, Anne Hannon, said during the meeting, held in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department.
The commission voted 3-0 in favor of conditional approval for the change, encouraging Ian Hobbs (also in attendance) to secure approval from all neighbors and to find out more why the Parking Commission at its Nov. 6 meeting had spoken out against the change.
During the meeting, according to the Parking Commission’s minutes, the group said it’s “not comfortable with the proposed change due to the number of drop-offs for the School of Rock and Arts for Healing on the other side of the street. Also Grove Street is somewhat narrow where the loading zone is situated and its presence ameliorates that issue. The Chairman informed the Police Commission and the Police Chief of the Commission’s stance.”
During the Police Commission meeting, officials noted that the door into the School of Rock is inside a parking lot and that most parents drop children off there. They also said that drop-off times are typically after 5 p.m. for School of Rock, meaning there would be less of a conflict with the proposed spaces on Grove Street.
Police Capt. Vincent DeMaio said: “We have such a parking issue down over the train tracks on Pine Street constantly that this may alleviate some of that pressure too.”
Hobbs Inc. in September purchased new office space in Stamford and intends to sell its Grove Street building.
Ian Hobbs said at the Police Commission meeting that though the building is for sale, it’s been delayed “because the parking issue is such a big issue.”
Hannon added: “It’s affecting the value of the building.”
Police commissioners said they could grant final approval for the change at their Jan. 21 meeting.