Town Open Space—

Traffic Authority Reviews Parking Near Taunton Lake

By Andrew Gorosko

Following discussion at a September 7 Police Commission session, panel members agreed to monitor whether vehicle parking on Taunton Lake Road, near the town’s open space area that abuts Taunton Lake, is creating public safety hazards.

The commission serves as the local traffic authority and reviews public safety issues posed by traffic flow and parking.

In response to concerns expressed by the Taunton Lake Association (TLA) about travel hazards caused by people who park their vehicles along Taunton Lake Road while using the town’s open space area, the Police Commission had the police department’s traffic unit perform a study of the parking situation.

The town’s public accessway to the lake at 9-A Taunton Lake Road is near the northern end of the lake, in the vicinity of the Newtown Fish & Game Club’s boat launch/parking lot. The town open space provides direct public access to the lake.

The scenic 127-acre spring-fed lake formerly served as a reservoir for Newtown’s public water supply. The lake has an 850-acre watershed. Taunton Lake feeds Pond Brook, which carries water to Lake Lillinonah.

Kevin Kohn of 75 Taunton Lake Road, TLA acting president, told Police Commission members that the association wants “No Parking” signs posted along Taunton Lake Road near the northern end of the lake. Association members have noticed that more vehicles are being parked by people using the town open space than had occurred in the past, he said. The parking situation creates hazards for residents in the area, he said.

Mr Kohn said there is an area along the road where it would be safe for two vehicles to park, but other road sections should be posted with “No Parking” signs.

The Newtown Fish & Game Club supports the TLA’s viewpoint on the matter, Mr Kohn said. the TLA is an association of property owners living near the lake.

Mr Kohn suggested that the town erect some guardrails along the road section at issue.

In an ensuing discussion on the Taunton Lake Road parking issue, Police Commission members considered the TLA’s request for “No Parking” signs.

Commission Chairman Duane Giannini, who lives in the vicinity of the road section under review, said that the road becomes crowded with parked vehicles on the opening day of trout season in April and for about a week thereafter. Otherwise, there does not seem to be a parking problem there, he added.

Mr Giannini said it would be impractical to install guardrailing along the road because doing so would create physical barriers that would prevent vehicles from pulling off the road when it is necessary to allow large trucks traveling in the opposite direction to pass.

Mr Giannini noted that he drives through that area often, so he is aware of parking conditions there.

Police Commission members then agreed to monitor parking conditions along the road section near the town open space area through the end of this year and address the parking issue again at their January meeting.