Vinal Square Committee elects new chair, reviews traffic redesign and parking concerns

CHELMSFORD -- April 22, 2025, Chelmsford's Vinal Square committee reorganizes leadership and hears parking alarm on North Chelmsford redesign. The Vinal Square Strategic Action Plan Committee unanimously elected a new chair at its April 22 meeting after outgoing chair Joe Tierney stepped back from the lead role due to scheduling constraints; Tierney will serve as vice chair and Laura Lynn continues as clerk. The committee received a summary of written remarks from DPW Director Christine Clancy indicating that the 25 percent street redesign has been submitted to MassDOT and will produce a net loss of 13 parking spaces even after Right Street is converted to one-way, adding six. Business owner and committee member Joan Walters, calling in remotely, warned that adding EV charging stations to already-scarce street parking would hurt local businesses, though the committee clarified those six fast-charging ports are planned for the municipal lot, a separate project pending easement approval at town meeting, targeted for fall 2025. Separately, the committee was put on notice that the lease on the privately owned rear portion of the Vinal Square municipal lot expires around May 2026 with no renewal yet secured, a potential blow to the already-tight parking supply.