The Newport City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday night to approve a permit for the Newport Kite Festival at Brenton Point State Park on July 12-13, despite strong opposition from Third Ward Councilor David Carlin over unresolved parking problems that plagued last year’s event.
Carlin cited “dozens and dozens and dozens of complaints” from residents in his ward regarding the 2024 festival, which drew an estimated 2,000 visitors to a park with only 363 parking spaces. The overflow resulted in illegal parking that blocked driveways and violated city ordinances.
“My constituents are not going to rely on Mother Nature to provide them with the quality of life that they deserve,” Carlin said, referencing festival organizer Ron Kitt’s suggestion that weather conditions might help distribute crowds more evenly across both days.
Kitt, who took over organizing the 39th annual festival, defended the event as a free public benefit that he funds personally. He noted that without an organized festival, the parking situation would be “way worse” because the additional field parking wouldn’t be available.
“When there’s an organized festival, we have police details,” Kitt said, explaining that last year’s event had two officers one day and three the other due to rain, concentrating attendance on Sunday.
Police Chief Brian Duffy confirmed the department plans to deploy additional traffic unit officers beyond the hired details to address the parking and traffic issues experienced in 2024.
The council also addressed several traffic safety initiatives during the meeting. Members voted to remand a proposed three-way stop sign at Spring Street, Bowery Street and Young Street back to the Intersection Traffic Committee for further study, following concerns from Carlin about potential traffic congestion.
The ITC had recommended the stop signs based on 23 accidents at the intersection over the past 10 years, but Carlin argued the installation would worsen existing gridlock on Spring Street, one of two major north-south routes in the southern part of the city.
In contrast, the council unanimously approved adding Hammond Street to the city’s weight-restricted streets list, prohibiting commercial buses and trucks over 5,500 pounds. The action followed residents presenting data showing that 62,000 vehicles used Hammond Street over 27 days, with many using it as a cut-through since the traffic direction on Dixon Street was reversed.
A resident of Hammond Street told the council that 24 homes signed a petition seeking relief from the increased traffic. “We’ve never seen anything like it,” he said, describing high-speed traffic and safety concerns for children in the neighborhood.
Deb Roberts, another Hammond Street resident, warned of hazardous conditions created by the increased traffic. “My biggest concern is that it’s just a moment in time. I mean, I just feel like there’s going to be a fatal accident if this is not addressed quickly,” she said.
The council also received presentations from the Tree and Open Space Commission regarding two ongoing issues. Chair Maureen Cronin updated the council on elephant sculpture placement at Aquidneck Park, noting that nine months have passed since the sculptures were donated and the donor continues to pay storage costs.
Cronin also addressed the deteriorating landscape conditions at the Pell Bridge gateway during the public comment portion of the meeting, reporting that over 81 trees planted during the bridge realignment project are dead or dying. She criticized the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for failing to fulfill promises to replace trees and complete landscaping work.
“The landscape was left in disarray after the realignment project,” Cronin said, explaining that RIDOT’s subcontractor doesn’t plan to address the failing trees until fall.
In other business, the council approved several fee increases. Harbor Master Steve Land successfully advocated for a 10% increase in mooring permit fees, the first increase in years as part of a gradual effort to bring rates in line with comparable harbors.
Despite opposition from Carlin, who argued against additional fees for Newport residents following recent tax increases, the council approved the harbor fee increases 6-1. Land noted that Newport’s fees remain well below market rates, with commercial moorings renting for $4,000-$6,000 annually while resident permit holders pay $300-$400.
The council also approved increases to various city fees, including special event permits and entertainment licenses, as part of an effort to make the city clerk’s office entirely fee-funded rather than taxpayer-supported.
Two resolutions were withdrawn for further consideration. Councilor Stephanie Smyth withdrew proposed revisions to council rules and a Sister Cities Commission oversight resolution, with the latter continuing to a workshop format after input from commission members.
Vice Chair Lynn Ceglie introduced a resolution directing the city manager to work with RIDOT on safety improvements at the intersection of America’s Cup Avenue and Bannister’s Wharf, citing dangerous conditions for pedestrians during tourist season.
The council also approved Ceglie’s resolution to allow mobile food establishments at the new JT Connell Highway parking lot near the Newport Bridge, hoping to attract visitors to use the free parking and RIPTA shuttle service.
The meeting also included the council addressing various ordinance amendments, including parking restrictions on Poplar Street and Spring Street, both approved on second reading.
Video of the meeting will be available here shortly.
The Newport City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday night to approve a permit for the Newport Kite Festival at Brenton Point State Park on July 12-13, despite strong opposition from Third Ward Councilor David Carlin over unresolved parking problems that plagued last year’s event.
Carlin cited “dozens and dozens and dozens of complaints” from residents in his ward regarding the 2024 festival, which drew an estimated 2,000 visitors to a park with only 363 parking spaces. The overflow resulted in illegal parking that blocked driveways and violated city ordinances.
“My constituents are not going to rely on Mother Nature to provide them with the quality of life that they deserve,” Carlin said, referencing festival organizer Ron Kitt’s suggestion that weather conditions might help distribute crowds more evenly across both days.
Kitt, who took over organizing the 39th annual festival, defended the event as a free public benefit that he funds personally. He noted that without an organized festival, the parking situation would be “way worse” because the additional field parking wouldn’t be available.
“When there’s an organized festival, we have police details,” Kitt said, explaining that last year’s event had two officers one day and three the other due to rain concentrating attendance on Sunday.
Police Chief Brian Duffy confirmed the department plans to deploy additional traffic unit officers beyond the hired details to address the parking and traffic issues experienced in 2024.
The council also addressed several traffic safety initiatives during the meeting. Members voted to remand a proposed three-way stop sign at Spring Street, Bowery Street and Young Street back to the Intersection Traffic Committee for further study, following concerns from Carlin about potential traffic congestion.
The ITC had recommended the stop signs based on 23 accidents at the intersection over the past 10 years, but Carlin argued the installation would worsen existing gridlock on Spring Street, one of two major north-south routes in the southern part of the city.
In contrast, the council unanimously approved adding Hammond Street to the city’s weight-restricted streets list, prohibiting commercial buses and trucks over 5,500 pounds. The action came after residents presented data showing 62,000 vehicles used Hammond Street over 27 days, with many using it as a cut-through since Dixon Street’s traffic direction was reversed.
A resident of Hammond Street told the council that 24 homes signed a petition seeking relief from the increased traffic. “We’ve never seen anything like it,” he said, describing high-speed traffic and safety concerns for children in the neighborhood.
Deb Roberts, another Hammond Street resident, warned of hazardous conditions created by the increased traffic. “My biggest concern is that it’s just a moment in time. I mean, I just feel like there’s going to be a fatal accident if this is not addressed quickly,” she said.
The council also received presentations from the Tree and Open Space Commission regarding two ongoing issues. Chair Maureen Cronin updated the council on the placement of the elephant sculptures at Aquidneck Park, noting that nine months have passed since the sculptures were donated, and the donor continues to pay storage costs.
Cronin also addressed the deteriorating landscape conditions at the Pell Bridge gateway, reporting that over 81 trees planted during the bridge realignment project are dead or dying. She criticized the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for failing to fulfill promises to replace trees and complete landscaping work.
“The landscape was left in disarray after the realignment project,” Cronin said, explaining that RIDOT’s subcontractor doesn’t plan to address the failing trees until fall.
In other business, the council approved several fee increases. Harbor Master Steve Land successfully advocated for a 10% increase in mooring permit fees, the first increase in years as part of a gradual effort to bring rates in line with comparable harbors.
Despite opposition from Carlin, who argued against additional fees for Newport residents following recent tax increases, the council approved the harbor fee increases 6-1. Land noted that Newport’s fees remain well below market rates, with commercial moorings renting for $4,000-$6,000 annually while resident permit holders pay $300-$400.
The council also approved increases to various city fees, including special event permits and entertainment licenses, as part of an effort to make the city clerk’s office entirely fee-funded rather than taxpayer-supported.
Two resolutions were withdrawn for further consideration. Councilor Stephanie Smyth withdrew proposed revisions to council rules and a Sister Cities Commission oversight resolution, with a workshop planned for a resolution on the Sister Cities Commission Program.
Vice Chair Lynn Ceglie introduced a resolution directing the city manager to work with RIDOT on safety improvements at the intersection of America’s Cup Avenue and Bannister’s Wharf, citing dangerous conditions for pedestrians during tourist season.
The council also approved Ceglie’s resolution to allow mobile food establishments at the new JT Connell Highway parking lot near the Newport Bridge, hoping to attract visitors to use the free parking and RIPTA shuttle service.
The meeting also included the council addressing various ordinance amendments, including parking restrictions on Poplar Street and Spring Street, both approved on second reading.
Video of the meeting will be available here shortly.
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