To the Editor:

The following points are in response to the characterization of what I said at the July 28 Council meeting as reported in the July 30 Town Topics [”Council Tackles Crowded Agenda” ]. The points I made in my comments that relate to what was reported were the following:

1) The front yard setback parking rule, if followed, would make streets look nicer — no cars jutting out interfering with views of houses and front yard plantings, but the rule has not been enforced for years, many don’t obey it, and it becomes absurd after the consolidated zoning board ruling of this past February allowing the owner of 16 Madison to cut down the tree and tear out all the other plantings in her front yard to make room for a parking space right in front of her house. I also emphasized that parking in a dedicated driveway but in front of the setback is very different from parking in one’s front yard.

2) On Madison Street and many other streets in the R4 zone, the 16 Madison decision by the zoning board sets a precedent that will certainly encourage many others to seek the same remedy for their parking problems because many small lots lack an appropriate place for parking. The result will be a much shabbier looking neighborhood, considerably more congestion, and an increase in density as single family homes become multi-tenant rental properties.

3) If the past may serve as an example, lax enforcement will lead to many violations of the law which will exacerbate the problems — like parking two cars side by side on a front yard where only parking for one car has been approved.

Steve Weiss

Madison Street

Editor’s note: The story in question inaccurately quoted Mr. Weiss to the effect that his house is one of at least seven others on his street “with impossible parking situations.”