Government
‘The Street Is Basically An Extension of Their Lot’: East Maple Street Neighbors Say Auto Shop Is Causing Traffic Problems
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A Main Street auto shop is treating a residential street next-door as its own parking lot, neighbors say, exacerbating traffic problems and safety hazards on what is already a busy, narrow road. AC Auto Body’s designated parking space on East Maple Street—a privilege enjoyed by the shop because it serves as the designated on-call wrecking service in emergencies—is problematic in that it affects sight lines and pinches the street, according to about a dozen neighbors who addressed members of the Police Commission on Wednesday. The auto shop also abuses the designated spot by parking more than one tow truck on the east side of the street and sometimes using the space for customer vehicles, according to East Maple Street resident David Shea. “The street is basically an extension of their lot,” Shea told the commissioners at their regular monthly meeting, held at the New Canaan Police Department. “This has become a complex parking and traffic situation,” he added, echoing some of the problems he expressed to the same group more than one year ago.