One-way change for Howard Street sent back to committee

LACONIA — City councilors sent a request to make Howard Street one way and restrict parking to only one side of the road back to committee during their regular meeting Monday evening. The question will return to the Public Works Subcommittee for further interrogation.

Citizens packed the Armand Bolduc City Council Chambers during the meeting at City Hall downtown to voice their concerns regarding the proposal.

The initial request came from property owners along Howard Street, Ward 2 Councilor Robert Soucy said. Fire department officials said the road, which is narrow at just 19 feet across, could be difficult to access for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. 

A city staff report noted pickup trucks habitually parked on the corner between 11 and 15 Howard St. jam the road and make it difficult to access.

As it stands, Howard Street is one way from Riverside Court to the entrance of Victoria Woods. The proposed changes would have made Howard Street one way from Riverside all the way to Church Street next to the Brick Front Restaurant & Lounge and restrict parking to only the even-numbered side. 

During a public hearing on the matter, area residents said changes to parking could have negative impacts and it’s not necessary to make the two-way portion of Howard Street one way, and fire and other emergency vehicles do not have trouble accessing the neighborhood. 

Mark Dadian of Church Street wondered who made the request initially and said there are more homes located on the even-numbered side of Howard Street than there are on the odd-numbered side. 

“I’d like to know what the thinking is that went into this,” Dadian said. 

Soucy said the request was made to him by property owners on the street because of tight parking conditions. Soucy spoke with Fire Chief Tim Joubert, who said if there were cars blocking the street, it would cause problems accessing the neighborhood. Members of the Public Works Subcommittee said they should make Howard Street one way.

“I also patrolled that area for many years in a cruiser, so I could understand that side of it, and I realize the residents that are there are going to have a hard time parking,” Soucy said. “I also look at the safety side of it and getting emergency vehicles in there.”

Lorraine Barrows of Riverside Court said the city should work with residents informally to find a solution rather than change existing rules or create new regulations. 

“If you make Howard Street one way all that way, then they’ll be able to get out onto Church Street, but when they come down and enter on Riverside Court, what’s to make them go around on Howard Street to get into their driveway? What’s going to keep them from coming right into my driveway and then into their driveway?” she said. “At that point, it’s only 12 feet wide. There’s a big telephone pole right on the corner.”

Soucy made the motion to send the item back to the Public Works Subcommittee, Ward 4 City Councilor Steven Bogert seconded it and the motion passed unanimously.