Gloucester Council Votes Down Radcliffe Fire Lanes
The Gloucester City Council voted 0-7 to reject fire lanes on both sides of Radcliffe Street after a contentious hearing over a decades-old Rocky Neck parking dispute.
Select Board · Meeting of September 22, 2026
GLOUCESTER — The Gloucester City Council voted 0-7 to reject fire lanes on both sides of Radcliffe Street after a contentious hearing over a decades-old Rocky Neck parking dispute. Traffic Commission Chairman Bob Ryan said a sweep-path analysis found fire apparatus could not safely navigate the street, while resident Michael D. Liberty asked "What's changed?" after 44 years of the same conditions.
Councilor Marjorie Grace said the fight "did not start out as a safety issue" but "is a safety issue now." Councilors Kimberly, Maggiota, Memmard, Page, Benson, Grace and Gross all voted no, with two members absent. Elsewhere, the council approved a $42,628.96 state 911 grant, two Historic New England preservation restrictions, and a 6-1 vote cutting early voting hours for the first week before the November 3 election, with Councilor Dylan Benson opposed.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,124 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of September 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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