Controversial Maple Street Closure Approved In Summit

SUMMIT, NJ — Maple Street is set to go car-free this summer after a split vote by city officials, following weeks of debate over safety, traffic and the future of downtown.

At their May 6 meeting, the Summit Common Council approved the plan in a 4-2 vote, closing a portion of Maple Street from June 18 through Sept. 7 to create a pedestrian plaza and expand outdoor dining.

Subscribe

Supporters said the move is designed to bring more people into downtown Summit and support local businesses facing changing shopping habits.

“We need to give people a reason to come out in Summit, a reason to spend their money here instead of somewhere else, and to come together as a community,” Councilmember Dan Crisafulli said during the meeting.

Dylan Baker, owner of Summit House on Maple Street, said he believes the idea has strong community backing.

“If you put this on a ballot in November, you would see a sweeping majority approve this, and they would approve it for much longer than the 10 weeks that are being proposed,” Baker said.

Others raised concerns about how the closure could impact residents, traffic and nearby businesses.

Laurie Combias, a Maple Street property owner, said the plan could create delivery issues and increase late-night activity, while benefiting only a small number of businesses.

Resident Stacey Allen also raised safety concerns, describing a past emergency involving her daughter and warning that added congestion could delay response times.

Public safety officials shared different perspectives on how the closure could affect operations.

Fire Chief Eric Evers said crews are used to navigating road closures and can manage the change, while Police Chief Ryan Peters said officers could face response delays and recommended using crash-tested barriers to protect pedestrians.

Mayor Elizabeth Fagan questioned whether the closure meets the legal standard under state law, which requires such actions to be necessary for public safety, health or welfare.

“Is the closing of Maple Street necessary for the welfare of this community? I can’t say that,” Fagan said.

Councilmembers Jamel Boyer and Bob Pawlowski voted against the ordinance, citing concerns about safety, legal liability and the lack of certain engineering certifications discussed during the meeting.