FREEPORT

The Town Council postponed a public hearing and vote Tuesday on proposed changes to village parking requirements that continue to divide business owners.

After a glitch in notifying the public, the hearing and Town Council vote will take place during the next meeting, Sept. 17.

The town is considering a cut in the fees it charges some businesses to provide parking in the busy retail district and would collect new fees from “grandfathered” businesses that currently do not have to comply.

During the Aug. 20 meeting, Town Council Chairman James Hendricks noted the Planning Board voted “not to move forward” with the changes. And Councilor Scott Gleeson said he wanted the council minutes to reflect that the council is considering the “unusual process” of considering something that has not been approved by the Planning Board.

On Wednesday, business owners once again squared off on the issue.

Annette Evans, owner of R.D. Allen Jewelers at 13 Middle St., spoke in favor of some sort of change.

A minority of business owners is paying parking fees to the town, she said, while a majority is grandfathered — meaning they do not pay the same fees because the business predated the rules.

“I’m one of the 25 percent,” Evans said.

Vice Chairwoman Kristina Egan asked Evans if it would be helpful to discontinue requiring her to pay for her tenants’ parking spaces.

“It would be a relief,” Evans answered.

Most business owners present, however, spoke strongly in favor of honoring the protection the town afforded existing businesses in 1984. Tom Wilbur and Rod Regier were among the residents advocating for the integrity of the 1984 agreement. 

Wilbur, owner of Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections, said it would be unfair for the town to withdraw the grandfathering rights.

He recalled that the town made the 1984 agreement in an effort to protect existing local businesses, by not requiring parking fees.

“Developers were building large properties and there was no parking for them,” Wilbur said. “I just think that this is a real abrogation. I don’t know if it’s illegal. I don’t care. I know that parking is a gigantic cash cow for the town.”

Wilbur added that parking isn’t really at such a premium in Freeport.

Traffic is down, and one parking lot was paved during the busy month of August, he said.
Regier, whose musical instruments business is not located along the busy Main Street corridor, agreed with Wilbur.

Regier emphasized that he was not wearing his Traffic and Parking Committee hat when he said: “I think you’re playing with fire.”

“This is a regulatory conversation without thought of the practical consequences,” Regier said. “Also, you’re taking one favored class and creating a brand new favored class. It seems to me that all you’re doing is changing the conflict.”

Mike Marino, whose properties include Banana Republic and American Eagle, advised the council to be careful about reducing parking spaces.

Marino said he has seen business plateau, then flatline, and undergo gradual improvement.

“But parking is key,” Marino said. “A reduction of parking is not the answer.”

Marino said an employee parking ordinance — whereby employees could not occupy prime parking spaces — might make sense.

Earlier, Hendricks informed the public of the “miscue” that prevented a hearing and vote Wednesday: “The consultants’ report instead of the actual ordinance has been posted for three weeks.”