Nahant residents oppose proposed beach parking lot

NAHANT – Town Administrator Andy Bisignani said he?s received more complaints than support from residents after a small group of people expressed interest in building a parking lot at Canoe Beach. “They want to pave paradise and put up a parking lot,” joked Bisignani, quoting the popular song lyrics.The item up for discussion at tonight?s Board of Selectmen meeting is calling for paving over the grassy area at the East Point beach to put down 500 feet of asphalt, plus adding bathrooms and an outdoor shower.Bisignani said he?s only heard from residents who don?t want the parking lot, but, like he said, it?s up to the board to decide.Canoe Beach is a popular site for construction lately, as the town just finished adding new curbing to the street, a project for which Northeastern University provided half the cost, an estimated $9,000. Bisignani said the university was interested in making the entrance to their Marine Science Center look more presentable.The next phase of the project will be to add beach grass to the dunes of the beach to protect the coastline.