More parking problems in Leominster – West End Diner is to blame

While I’m on the subject of parking problems in Leominster, I figured I’d try and tackle the parking problem out in front of the West End Diner. How does the Sausage King even have an occupancy permit for that diner? He packs them in there like Sardines and he has no off-street parking! And have you been to his VIP room upstairs? Rumor has it that he has a room upstairs that he uses when the place is full and even offers alcoholic beverages (for free of course) to his patrons.  I must clarify that this is a rumor and I have never personally been up there although I do have my sources…

I emailed the Chief of Police, Mayor Dean Mazzarella, and three of the four At-Large Councilors with my concerns. I’ll cross my fingers while I await a response.

I would have emailed Wayne Marchand but he does not list an email address on the city of Leominster website. How is that for making yourself available to your constituents??? For the record, James Lanciani does not either but I’d be willing to be he doesn’t even have a computer.

I’ll let you know if I get a response from any of the people I sent the email to.

No parking on Kingman Drive…What an idea!

I think I remember a post a while back about the parking situation at Leominster High School.

Is Leominster High School creating its own traffic and parking problems? 

Apparently Sgt. Michael Goldman of the Leominster Police Department reads my blog and decided to take my advice as you can read in the article below in today’s Sentinel.

Proposal would nix parking on Kingman Drive

Just kidding Mike! I’m sure you came up with the idea on your own. Nonetheless, it’s a great idea and I think it should be seriously considered. I do commend Sgt. Goldman for bringing this idea to the City Council.

The main arguments from the students and administrators are as follows:

“…the city should expand the existing parking lots so students don’t have to risk tardiness and fender-benders to find a spot before school.” – GET UP EARLIER!!!

“If they banned parking on Kingman, we’d have to be here before 7 (a.m.),”  GET UP EARLIER!!!

“…as underclassmen receive licenses throughout the year, more students bring cars to school, overtaxing the fewer than 300 spaces on campus.” GIVE OUT FEWER PARKING PERMITS!!!

“I think there’s a perception by some that kids are bringing cars to school because they just want to drive to school …” WAKE UP!!! THEY BRING CARS SO THEY CAN JET AT LUNCH TIME AND BLOW OFF THE REST OF THE DAY!!!

I think the administration at Leominster High has missed the boat on this one. Did they forget that driving is a privilege not a right. Especially for a 17 year old kid. Limit the number of parking passes that are given out. How many after school jobs start within 1/2 hour of school getting out? Is that really a problem?

How about going to athletic events? Aren’t the athletic events associated with the school? How about scheduling the after school practice at a time that will allow all students to get their on time by taking the bus?

It’s very simple. Eliminate the parking on Kingman Drive, limit the number of parking permits given out, and stop coming up with excuses as to why 17 year old kids need to be driving to school!!!

Pierce Pond Development gains support from Leominster Planning Board

I caught the most recent Leominster Planning Board meeting last night and I wanted to comment on a couple of controversial proposals. Actually one is surrounded with controversy and the other should be but isn’t.

The first was a proposal to rezone a parcel of land on Central St from Residential A to Commercial. Basically a homeowner has some commercial land along Route 12 across from Johnny Appleseeed Plaza and another parcel he owns behind his commercial land is zoned residential. He wants to rezone the residential land to commercial.

Why? He wants to sell it off and try and make a lot of money.

Oh and by the way, the lot that is zoned residential has a single family house on it.

It’s rediculous…

One neighbor said it best. I don’t recall his name but basically he said that the city or the neighborhood stands to gain nothing from this and the only gain will be realized by the property owner attempting to rezone his land since he would likely be able to sell it for more money to a developer. People are funny…

The second item I saw was the proposed development on Pierce Pond by local builder Peter Bovenzi.

Guess how many neighbors and residents were there to oppose this development. ZERO!

Howcome? I remember a recent proposal by two families to build two single family houses up off of Abbott Ave and there were about 50 people there at each meeting opposing the project. This development is on the shores of a quiet pond and right along the Monoosnoc Brook and nobody cares!

Am I the only one that thinks this development is a bad idea? Maybe nobody cares. Doesn’t the Monoosnoc Brook have any significance to this area?

I guess I’m missing something. Oh and get this. The Planning Board actually thought it  may be a better project if he increases the number of houses from 12 to 18! Explain that one!

I love Leominster!!!