Swampscott board delays parking vote

SWAMPSCOTT – Selectmen postponed their vote to allow residents visitor parking on Humphrey Street for fear it would obstruct the parking for area businesses. After residents complained that their guests had nowhere to park and were being ticketed to visit them, the Traffic Advisory Committee recommended that the board approve giving two visitor parking permits each to the residents of Humphrey Street?s condominiums. The permits would be for an unlimited amount of time.Town Administrator Thomas Younger, who reported the recommendation to the board in their meeting Wednesday, assured that these residences were closer to the Fish House than the more commercial end of the street.But after doing the math, Chairman Jill Sullivan realized business owners may be the ones who end up losing out. Between the 15 residencies at the Concordia and the residences by the Fish House, Sullivan estimated that there could be as many as 60 cars parked with visitor passes at a time.?That?s a whole lot of parking where there isn?t a lot,” agreed Selectman Glenn Kessler. “We have to strike a balance between businesses and residences.”Board members unanimously agreed to postpone a vote until the Traffic Advisory Committee could come before the board at their next meeting on Oct. 16.