The meeting’s most notable discussion centered around the parking problems on Grant Street, where residents Kristen Silva and Dennis Felman brought attention to issues caused by commercial vehicles. Silva reported finding 13 commercial vehicles parked between South Main Street and Broadway on Division Street, some double-parked and others with expired registrations. She noted, “I found two of them whose registrations are expired and they’re still parking on the street.” These vehicles, she argued, were taking up multiple parking spots, intensifying parking difficulties for residents.

Dennis Felman added that the situation was making it difficult for residents to access their driveways, with vehicles partially blocking exits. He recounted being told by police that no action could be taken unless a vehicle completely blocked a driveway. Felman expressed dissatisfaction with this response, stating, “it’s becoming a habit where I can’t get out of my driveway because people are that the back of their cars or the front of the cars are extending into the driveway.”

The board members engaged in a discussion to clarify the regulations surrounding parking of commercial vehicles.

Residents proposed potential solutions, including utilizing empty parking lots or implementing a neighborhood parking permit system, similar to those in larger cities like Boston. However, Lieutenant Dart remarked that such a system might not be feasible due to the city’s size and financial implications.

Beyond Grant Street, the board also considered a request to prohibit parking on Blossom Road at the intersection with Indiantown Road.

Safety concerns were also raised by students from Holy Trinity and Lerno Schools who attended the meeting to discuss traffic safety at South Coast Plaza’s exit on Stafford Road. They highlighted difficulties faced during school dismissal times and suggested improvements such as trimming bushes for better visibility and installing traffic lights. The board acknowledged the students’ input, balancing the need for safety enhancements with the potential disruption to existing traffic patterns.

In light of these concerns, the board addressed the concerns of a local business, J&J Bakery, which requested 15-minute parking outside their establishment on George Street. This request was approved to facilitate customer access, with the condition that the business owner confirms the hours of operation with City Hall.

Similarly, another business, Bright F Cafe, located on Bright Street, received approval for 15-minute parking to accommodate their takeout service needs. The board agreed to this request, emphasizing that the signage should align with the business hours.

The meeting also revisited previously tabled requests for handicap spaces, including one for South Coast Funeral Home on Pleasant Street. This request was conditionally approved, pending the submission of necessary documentation. A separate request for additional handicap parking at Tan School was denied, as the current facilities met compliance standards.

Through careful deliberation, the board approved or tabled requests based on available data and input from residents.