Christmas Tree Lane walks nights could be on chopping block amid safety concerns

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The aboriginal of a beloved Fresno contented is present successful jeopardy arsenic residents of Fig Garden Village rise concerns astir Christmas Tree Lane.

"With this influx of truthful galore vendors, it has truly created a carnivalesque atmosphere," HOA Treasurer Dan Gallagher said.

In a newsletter obtained by Action News, Gallagher wrote that vendors person "inundated" the vicinity connected locomotion nights, adding that "the concern is conscionable excessively harmful."

"These vendors volition artifact your driveways (and) beryllium connected your property," Gallagher said. "Last year, I had them instrumentality down galore of our postulation power barricades truthful that they could determination their vehicles and trailers in."

Gallagher is present calling connected the metropolis and region to instrumentality action, oregon other the committee volition see cutting locomotion nights altogether.

"People emotion it. They look guardant to it," Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld said. "I don't privation to spot that stopped, but I recognize the concerns with the vendors."

Bredefeld's territory includes overmuch of Christmas Tree Lane. He was determination arsenic Fig Garden residents met for their yearly gathering Wednesday.

"Whatever we request to bash to marque definite it's a harmless venue for everybody and that we tin person it continue, we volition do," helium said.

Gallagher wants an ordinance to let instrumentality enforcement to mention vendors and confiscate their equipment.

City Council President Mike Karbassi is vowing to enactment with the region and says the metropolis could already person an answer.

"We really bash present person a thoroughfare vending ordinance we didn't person past year, and we're going to spot if that could use here," Karbassi said.

Christmas Tree Lane has closed to walkers before. During the pandemic, it operated arsenic a drive-thru-only experience.

The walk-only nights gully thousands of visitors who dispersed retired arsenic cars are blocked.

Gallagher hopes it volition proceed again this year.

"We, ultimately, are inviting radical to travel to our neighborhood, and we privation to marque definite they are safe," helium said.

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