BIDDEFORD — A public meeting conducted by the Biddeford City Council to address concerns and correct misinformation about a new parking plan in downtown Biddeford took place Monday night. There were some questions, but most of those from the public who spoke called for doing away with the plan or having a public referendum to see if citizens wanted it before putting it into effect.

City officials said the changes that include more time limited parking in the downtown — which began Nov. 1 — and paying to park in city-owned lots — slated to start Dec. 1 — are designed to free up parking spots often taken by employees and residents. More parking availability will attract additional visitors to the area and help grow downtown businesses, they said.

However, many of those criticizing the plan were downtown small business owners who said the plan would hurt not help their businesses and potentially cause them to move or even close their doors for good.

Under the plan, parking along Main Street and all city streets will remain free, in keeping with a citizens referendum passed in 2014 that banned parking meters in the downtown. Downtown Main Street and additional, feeder streets will be limited to two hours of parking until 6 p.m., and then unlimited parking, but no overnight parking. There will be six 30-minute free spaces in the Franklin Street Parking Lot. Parking permits must be purchased to park in other downtown lots. Those who frequent the downtown to work or live can buy monthly permits, others who can’t find free street parking can purchase hourly or daily permits.

Matt Swaford, owner of High Rollers Glass and Gifts at 20 Alfred St. said he was against charging for parking in city parking lots because he is afraid it will hurt his business. Currently, he said, people can park on the street near his business for free. While that free parking will remain, he said he believes those who currently park in city lots will no longer do so if they have to pay and will take those nearby spots so their will be fewer spaces for his customers.

The parking plan “is gambling with our livelihoods,” he said. Like a number of others, Swaford told the council “if you think it’s the right thing to do, put it to referendum.”

In addition to costs to customers, a number of business owners complained that the cost to purchase long-term for them and their employees is too much. A Monday through Friday permit is $30/month, night and weekend is $20/month and 24/7 is $40/month. Those costs are set to increase May 1 to $50, $35 and $65 a month, respectively. These fund will be used to pay for the cost of parking program, which includes $60,000 for kiosks where permits can be purchased, $20,000 for handheld ticketing devices as well as the cost of additional parking enforcement personnel.

Joan Ladakakos, owner of the popular George’s Sandwich Shop at 37 Franklin St. said she believes charging to park at the nearby Franklin Street lot will hurt her. While six free spots are set aside in that lot, she often has many more customers than those spots will allow for. Noting by a show of hands that many if not most of the 80 to 100 people attending Monday’s meeting were business owners, she said “I’m pretty sure most of us don’t like it (the parking plan).”

Councilor Amy Clearwater, who represents Ward 5, which includes the downtown, told the audience to give the plan a chance.

“If we want to make sure your customers have a place to park, we have to make changes,” she said.

Councilor Norman Belanger who moderated Monday’s meeting said he supported the plan in part to take that tax burden off the city’s property taxpayers, as the cost to maintain the downtown streets and parking lots is paid for through the city’s General Fund.

In addition, he said, he believes the plan will help downtown businesses by providing more convenient parking for customers.

“I’m making a decision I think is a benefit for the entire city,” Belanger said.

In addition to business owners, some downtown employees, residents and others said the parking changes were a bad idea.

Samantha Levesque, a nurse, said the lack of overnight parking on Main Street, which could require many downtown residents to purchase parking lot permits, would force some from their homes. She said many of those who live in the downtown have incomes that are below the poverty line. They can’t afford to pay $40 or later $65 a month to assure they have parking, she said.

“This is just a straight up gentrification process,” she said.

Jules Dennison, an Alfred Street resident, who has a disability that requires her to have nearby parking said “I moved to this town because there was free parking.”

The parking changes may make it impossible for her to find convenient parking and will have a negative impact on her life, she said.

“I realize there’s a great deal of fear” about the plan. He invited those who experience problems with the changes to come to the Downtown Committee which he chairs, a committee that was set up to deal quickly to resolve parking related problems.

“We don’t think we’ve hit upon a perfect plan,” Belanger said. He said the council has tried to find a balance between the interests of the downtown and the rest of the city. “If there are better answers, I’m open,” he sad.

Belanger noted that the part of the plan that requires purchasing a permit to park in a city-owned lot may ultimately be decided by a judge.

Resident Jason Litalian has filed a lawsuit against the city to ban charging for parking in the downtown. He said the referendum that banned parking meters in the downtown was intended to ban the city from charging for parking anywhere in the downtown, including municipal parking lots.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be reached at 780-9014 or dmendros@journal tribune.com