Revised Parking Plan Approved

By Isabella Osgood
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
NEWPORT – On May 1, a revised Parking Plan was presented by the Main Street Committee to the Board of Selectmen. The Board approved the new plan that night.

There are about 210 parking spaces on Main Street now. An earlier plan made by the state of New Hampshire to repaint the parking lines after an upcoming paving project would have decreased that number by about 40. Business owners, concerned about the possible negative outcomes of this plan, came together to establish the new plan.

It was “passed on to the committee to make the recommendations,” Main Street Committee Chairman Jeff North said. North is also running for a Board of Selectmen seat on May 2.

Following North’s presentation, the Selectmen were in favor. The Main Street Committee now will contact the state to update them on this arrangement, and inform them that the Town will be painting Main Street independently. The state will still be paving, however.

This update does not limit the number of parking spaces, but rather increases them by about 23 spaces, North said. The committee also plans to add a curb cut in front of Universal Physical Therapy to improve handicap access, remove two mid-block pedestrian crossings that are considered a safety hazard, as well as removing the “offensive” neon green crosswalk signs on Main Street. North said some townspeople have been discontented with the signs “since they mysteriously appeared.”

The nine committee members also consulted with Newport’s Heritage Commission while establishing the changes. Putting a ramp by the Opera House was considered but dropped so that there would be no distractions “from the most historic building in town.” Not only did the Heritage Commission disapprove of the specific cross signs, but the state confirmed that these signs are not mandated by law.

Later, North said this project prompted his interest in running for the Newport Board of Selectmen, as he “enjoyed the process” and “found it enticing.” This is his first time running.