Sometimes public/private partnerships can work out well, creating a win-win situation for both entities. That seems to be the case with the parking lot proposal for the Harmon Museum/Historical Society and the Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution branch, in Old Orchard Beach.

A vote is set for Sept. 17 at which the town council will decide whether or not to send this plan forward to the voters in November, and we hope they choose to do so.

The museum has no parking at present and does not have a ramp to make it handicap-accessible. Both of those deficiencies would be rectified with this plan, which will also take care of the bank’s parking shortage.

As proposed, the bank would pay all the costs to create a 13-space parking lot behind the museum and would allow three of those spaces for museum use during banking hours. After the bank closes, all the spaces would be open for the museum. In addition to paying for the parking lot, the bank would take care of maintenance and would fund a paved walkway into the museum and a handicapped ramp.

Representatives of the bank and museum have already met to work out this proposal and it sounds like a great deal for them both. Since the museum is on town property, however, approval is needed from the voters to provide a permanent easement for this joint use.

It’s hard to imagine that Old Orchard Beach voters would reject this plan, as it improves a town property at no expense to the taxpayers and gives more people access to the museum’s offerings. Having no parking is certainly a deterrent for those who might otherwise be museum patrons or want to check out the historical society’s offerings. And without handicapped accessibility, the museum is also closed to those who can’t handle the stairs.

Parking is already at a premium in that downtown stretch of Old Orchard’s hottest spot, and it’s not expected to improve any time soon. There aren’t many other options for the bank ”“ and certainly none as close by ”“ so this easement is a way for the town to show how business-friendly it can be. It’s also a considerable donation from SBSI to not only create but maintain the parking lot ”“ no small potatoes in an area with frost heaves and heavy snowfall. In addition, their offering of building the walkway and ramp is generous and would be an improvement that the museum would otherwise have to fundraise toward.

We’re glad the bank and museum came to this agreement, which is going to benefit both entities, and we hope the council will see fit to give voters the choice of giving it the final approval.