Swampscott to discuss Phillips Beach parking

SWAMPSCOTT – Phillips Beach parking is up for discussion once again at a Traffic Study Committee open forum planned for Wednesday, July 31 at 6 p.m.The meeting to discuss additional parking was prompted by complaints to the Board of Selectmen that there wasn?t enough parking over the Fourth of July weekend, said committee member Dave Castellarin. With Phillips Beach being such a popular summer spot and located in a heavily residential area, Castellarin said he expects there could be 50 to 100 people packed into the Senior Center for the discussion.Castellarin said personally, he doesn?t see what the problem is. “Honestly, I?ve been down there on a 90-degree Saturday and I haven?t seen an issue where it?s overcrowded and not enough space,” he said. “But I don?t know how bad it is on the Fourth of July.”Castellarin said this is the fourth or fifth time the subject of adding parking to Phillips Beach has been discussed with the traffic committee over the last seven years. “It keeps coming back every year,” he said.The problem with additional parking, Castellarin said, is finding spots that don?t impede the neighborhood. On Thursday morning, Castellarin said he drove around with Police Chief Ron Madigan to identify where in the neighborhood resident parking could be changed to recreation parking. In order to keep the spots away from the front of houses, Castellarin said any additional new spots would be “chopping up the neighborhood.”?People will be driving around trying to find recreation sticker parking,” he said.The meeting will be for the committee to hear suggestions, concerns and hopefully, said Castellarin, some better ideas.