Post from Peter Klapes re: Winter overnight parking ban
Michael Halle
Peter Klapes sent this to me to post in response to Fran's previous email about the winter overnight parking ban:
"Thanks, Fran, for that picture! Absolutely sucks -- to see the snow piled up like that and just to have to see snow this time of year! I just want to clarify that that picture shows a snowstorm that was not declared a snow emergency. You and I would likely agree that that snow storm should have been declared a snow emergency, during which parking on the street would be illegal. However, that picture has nothing to do with the overnight parking ban. I am not sure what the overnight parking ban does to ensure that such a mess of snow does not exist on Newton's streets. It's not that snow clearing happens only at night. In fact, it happens only during the snow event, which often happens for more than four hours a night. So that picture has nothing to do with the overnight parking ban, but with snow emergencies, which will still be declarable by the Mayor anytime, even with the overnight parking ban repealed. "
He also points out: 'One thing I want to clarify is that Newton does in fact have a "10-foot rule." The ordinance (19-219) reads: "(a) No person shall stand or park or allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in his name to stand or park in any of the following places:
(7) upon any way where the parking of a vehicle will not leave a clear and unobstructed lane at least ten (10) feet wide for passing traffic."'
--Mike
Francis Yerardi
The reason this listserv is for West Newton only is we have a shared lived experience. Mr. Peter Klapes is from the south side of the city. Over in the Ward 8 Dudley Road area they don’t have the congestion like we do. They don’t have the village center like we do, the massive development, nor the recently passed high density zoning laws with little to no off-street parking requirements.
Oh, and over here on the north side of town- it snows!! It actually snows quite often and rarely is there ever a declared snow emergency.
Maybe on the south side of Newton the city does a great job plowing the streets often, but here on the north side the truth of the matter is- they don’t!
We have kids walking on the edge of the road now because of the snow on the sidewalks, just imagine where our kids will be walking once the plows can't clear the sides of streets due to cars parking there all night.
If we are being honest, you know kids will be walking in the middle of the street.
The city needs to develop a well-thought-out comprehensive parking plan for both on and off-street parking. One that considers each village unique needs. Until then let's not make decisions with unintended consequences that forces our kids into the middle of the streets.
On Aug 18, 2025, at 10:38 PM, Michael Halle <m...@halle.us> wrote:
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