A proposed parking garage would be only one part of an overall parking management plan, say Biddeford city officials. The details of such a plan, which could include free and paid permit parking, time-limited street parking and more, were the topic of a City Council workshop on Tuesday.
City officials say a parking garage in the downtown/mill district is necessary for the continued and future development of the area.
A major goal of funding a proposed parking structure is that it be funded by parking users, not property taxpayers, Economic and Community Development Director Mathew Eddy said. To ensure that, he said, there must be payment not just for spaces in the parking structure but also paying for spaces that are currently free, such as city-owned public parking lots, timed-limited on-street spots in the downtown and surrounding area and permitted on-street parking for residents of the area as well as downtown workers. Some of the permitted street parking could be free to residents living in the area, for non-residents who might work in the area they would likely have to pay for privilege of parking.
The purpose of time-limited parking on Main Street and other areas near the downtown is so that those spaces are reserved for visitors to the downtown who shop, eat at local restaurants or do other types of business in the area, Eddy said. The spots should not be taken by downtown workers who could instead be steered toward paid parking in a public lot or permitted on-street parking, he said.
Councilors had some concerns about the parking management plan as presented.
For instance, the time limit for parking on Main Street is proposed to change to one-hour from the current two-hour limit.
“I think that would actually discourage people from using the downtown businesses,” Councilor Laura Seaver said. One hour isn’t enough time to eat a meal or shop, she said.
Many were concerned about permitted on-street parking for residents if they were required to pay for it.
Councilor Victoria Foley said she didn’t think residents who don’t have parking associated with their apartment should have to pay for on-street parking.
Seaver agreed, she said the downtown area is where the city’s least affluent residents live. To make them pay for a parking permit was “penalizing residents to fund a garage they won’t be able to use.”
Rules around permitted and free on-street parking can be “tweaked,” City Manager James Bennett said, as they would have little to no impact on financing a garage.
Seaver also questioned the wisdom of the city constructing a parking structure, which many believe residents wouldn’t support funding. As proposed City Council, not voters, will decide whether to greenlight the project.
Development in the downtown/mill district brings a large amount of tax revenue to the city, Bennett said. “This is the place you have the greatest opportunity to help with the tax burden,” he said. If residents want property tax relief continued development, which would be dependent on constructing a parking garage, is necessary, he said.
There already has been significant investment in the city’s downtown, said Mayor Alan Casavant, a strong advocate of a parking garage. However, “to keep the ball rolling” and to attract additional investment in the area a parking structure is necessary.
Additional meetings will take place on the proposed parking structure. One of the major decisions the council will make if they decide to move forward is where to construct a parking garage. The three options include at the privately-owned Pepperell Mill Campus, the city-owned Washington Street parking lot or the former Maine Energy Recovery Company incinerator location at 3 Lincoln St., which is owned by the city. According to preliminary reports the latter option has been the most favorably reviewed.
If a parking management plan is approved, it will likely be implemented in June or July.
Follow the Bangor Daily News on Facebook for the latest Maine news.