BIDDEFORD — For months, Biddeford City Council has discussed a proposed parking garage and an associated parking management plan. There has been limited opportunity for the public to comment on these plans.

That is about to change.

Three listening sessions have been scheduled, the first to be held 6 p.m. April 5 at Council Chambers in Biddeford City Hall, where the City Council will listen to what the public wants to see in a parking management plan.

Currently there is no parking management plan but one is needed, said Mayor Alan Casavant, because “the city has to address the present and future needs of parking in the downtown.”

“Staff and the council have informally discussed the general concept” of what a parking management plan could look like, he said but no decisions have been made.

The listening sessions “will give the general public the chance to voice their ideas,” Casavant said.

“We’re hoping to get feedback of what businesses need,” he said. “We want to improve parking and improve business also.”

The council would also like to here the opinions of residents of and visitors to the downtown and mill district.

According to information on the city website, “The public opportunities will be established as listening sessions rather than public hearings. Listening sessions are voluntary, less formal, and allow for more flexibility.  The sessions will not involve comment from members of the City Council or staff in order to obtain as many comments as possible during each listening session.

For those unable to attend meetings, they may submit comments onlin by visiting the city website at biddefordmaine.org.

Although nothing has been finalized, the council has been moving forward with plans for a proposed parking garage. If the council approves constructing such a facility — which would not happen for several months — it has chosen the former Maine Energy Recovery Company trash incinerator on Lincoln Street as the location.

Casavant and others have said a publicly-financed parking garage is necessary to attract further growth in the city center and mill district. An overall parking management plan is needed as way to attract business to and finance a parking structure.

Property taxes would not be used to pay for a garage, city officials say.

Some potential elements of a parking management plan discussed by council members include: charging for city-owned parking lots in the downtown, which are currently free of charge; requiring permits, some free and some paid, on some of the streets near the downtown; and having free, timed-limited parking on Main Street and some other roads in the downtown.

However, nothing has been decided will not be decided until the public has had a chance to provide input.

“Once the listening sessions have been completed, staff will compile all comments obtained at the listening sessions and from the online form and will prepare a draft parking management plan for consideration by the City Council on or before June 18,” according to the city website. 

The council will review the draft parking management plan, which the public will have opportunity to comment on, subsequent to final adoption.

In addition to 6 p.m. April 5, there will be listening sessions at 6 p.m. April 10 and 1:30 p.m. April 12, the final session will be a staff listening session. All sessions will be held at Council Chambers in City Hall, 205 Main St., Biddeford.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be reached at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@journaltribune.com.