West Hartford weighs ending parking ban

Repeal spurs talk of housing, equity, traffic safety issues

West Hartford is considering scrapping its decades-old ban on overnight parking on streets, a move that could have implications on housing policy and pedestrian safety as well as the convenience of some residents.

The initial public reaction has been mixed, with some residents saying on-street parking would make life much better for people in multifamily homes or those with narrow driveways.

Others, however, warn that on-street parking could embolden car burglars or make driving more difficult by narrowing travel lanes.

West Hartford temporarily lifted the ban Thursday, and the town council on Monday evening will take up TownManager Matt Hart’s proposal to do away with it permanently except for the village center and some surrounding roads.

“We lifted this restriction during the pandemic as we had more people living and working from home,” Hart wrote in his proposal. “Interestingly, we did not experience any significant problems with the suspension of the ban.”

Throughout the year, West Hartford prohibits drivers from parking on any of its streets between 2 and 5 a.m. Drivers can avoid a ticket by applying online for a temporary exception when overnight guests’ cars fill a driveway or when construction makes their usual parking area inaccessible.

The proposal is to exempt most of West Hartford’s roads from that rule, with Hart’s office becoming able to issue permits to residents. Hart and the council will work out the specifics as they review the ordinance.

Streets in and around the town center are already subject to a stricter ban of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., and those rules would mostly remain in effect. That section of town has a large restaurant and bar district along with numerous apartment and condo buildings.

Lifting the ban could affect more than simply parking practices, said Sara Bronin, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law and the founder of Desegregate CT, a zoning reform organization.

“There’s a clear link between the amount of parking that a municipality requires off street in its zoning regulations and the ability to construct housing,” she said. “The more off-street parking you require for a property, the less space is there for housing.”

Some national housing reform advocates contend that on-street parking bans — much like multiacre zoning rules — are aimed at discouraging development of lowor moderate-income housing.

West Hartford’s ban has been on the books for more than a half century, and council member Liam

Sweeneysaidit’sworthreexamining.

“The town is looking at ways to modernize and update its approach tohousing, andthisisoneoftheways to look at that,” Sweeney said Friday.

Some residents raised safety concerns in a Facebook discussion last week. Nancy Goodyear warned that some roads would be too narrow if both sides are lined with parked cars.

“I wish though that they would park all on the same side of the street. Whenthey are on both sides of the road traffic has to stop and wait because only one car can get by when cars are on both sides,” she wrote.

Roberta Kennedy suggested that on-street parking would make it harder to deter car burglars.

“With all the car break-ins, why make the overnight street view more confusing?” Kennedy asked.

Sweeney acknowledged reservations, saying “We know some people are concerned, too, and we’ll absolutely keep in mind their concerns.”

At least one council member isn’t supporting the proposal. Mary Fay said she doesn’t see an equity issue involved, but foresees overnight on-street parking as a hazard.

“I like the fact that you can’t park overnight without contacting the police department. There are many streets — including mine — that are very narrow,” she said.

Fay warned that unregistered and junk cars or trailers could end up clogging local streets, since the owners could leave them there around the clock.

“This is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist,” she said.

Miles Wickless wrote on Facebook that he supports the change as a safety improvement.

“Totally in favor. Street parking helps slow traffic, and this change removes an unnecessary hassle for people with multiple cars and one narrow driveway,” he wrote.

Bronin said Friday that the traffic safety issue is important.

“Having parked cars on the street is a benefit. It tends to slow cars down as they drive down a neighborhood street,” she said. “The way we designed streets was to prioritize speed and convenience over everything else. Allowing parked cars is one thing communities have done to make streets safer for pedestrians and bikes.”

The town council will take up Hart’s proposal at its 7 p.m. meeting online at tinyurl.com/56bnvrn5.

Public comment on the matter won’t be taken, because the only decision will be whether to send the proposal to committee for review. If the idea advances beyond Monday night, the council will schedule a formal hearing so residents can provide their opinions.