FREEPORT

After wading through extended public comment and legal considerations, Town councilors Tuesday approved an amended parking ordinance that mixed and matched language from three separate studies.

Freeport’s baseline ordinance requires 6.7 parking spaces for every 1,000 square feet of an establishment’s business space.

However, some businesses are exempt, or “grandfathered,” from the parking requirements because they were established prior to the town’s 1976 ordinance governing parking. The effect of the grandfathering is that a multitude of small businesses essentially have provided the parking requirements for Freeport’s older, larger retailers.

The most substantive of Tuesday’s amendments will reduce parking requirements by 50 percent for basement or second-floor-level businesses. Also eliminated is parking required by business floorspace that is restroom, if that restroom is open to the general public.

Studies were conducted by the town’s Planning Board and Traffic and Parking Committee, as well as a Massachusetts engineering firm. The consultant suggested eliminating the grandfathered clauses, which would be illegal under state law and Freeport’s town charter.

An initial amendment offered by councilor Rich DeGrandpre replaced a Planning Board’s recommendation for residential parking requirements with one suggested by the Traffic and Parking Committee. The amendment, which passed 4-2 with councilors Sarah Tracy and Andrew Wellen opposed, changed apartment requirements to one parking space for a single bedroom unit, 1.75 spaces for a two-bedroom, and 2 spaces for a three-bedroom.

An additional half-space would be required for apartments beyond three bedrooms.

Final vote on the amendments was 4-2, with councilors Wellen and Melanie Sachs opposed.

jtleonard@timesrecord.com