Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. will examine how parking regulations downtown affect the city’s housing and development goals for the area. Photo: Pixabay
By Renée Morin
Downtown Sanford and Springvale will likely undergo changes to on-street parking, based on expected recommendations in a study commissioned by the City Council at Tuesday’s meeting.
The city contracted Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. of South Portland to conduct a study of parking downtown and to assist in updating any parking ordinances that require revision, said Codes and Planning Director Jamie Cole.
The company will conduct the study alongside the city’s new comprehensive plan, and aims to bring parking regulations in line with the city’s housing and downtown development goals to increase housing opportunities and to modernize rules around land use.
Concerns around parking are one of the main stumbling blocks for residential and multi-use development proposals in the city, according to a property subcommittee memorandum from Building and Permit Safety Specialist Alix Burbank of the Planning Department.
The city has not rewritten its parking ordinances or comprehensive plan in around 20 years. Both are in need of updates to address changes to the city and Maine statutes since that time, according to Cole.
The city went with the most extensive option that the contractors proposed, Cole said. Under this option, the company will study weekday and weekend parking in both the Sanford and Springvale downtowns.
Additionally, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin will hold presentations for the City Council and Planning Board and will help the city with any updates that need to be made to parking ordinances.
“It essentially achieves all of our goals that we need to not only update our zoning ordinance into the modern-day times, but also meets [Maine] statutory requirements,” said Cole.
The price tag for the study and ordinance revisions is estimated to be around $53,000, Cole said. The city will allocate $25,000 of that total from RAISE grant funds that have not yet been used for the comprehensive plan update. The additional $28,000 will be allocated from city funds already set aside for the comprehensive plan work.
Councilor Cheeny Plante identified Roberts Street as one area that will need to have its parking addressed. She said that parking along the road beside City Hall makes it hard for drivers to see approaching vehicles.
Public Works Director Matthew Hill said that the city is looking into narrowing the sidewalk and creating a safer crossing on that street. This may include adding a bump-out and keeping the rapid flashing light below the pedestrian walk sign. Cole said that the city also plans to eliminate one parking spot as vehicles turn onto Roberts Street.
Councilor Jonathan Martell identified parking on River Street as an area that needs attention. He said that the shoulder is too small, resulting in parked cars jutting out into the street.
A timeline for the parking study is under development, Cole said.
The post City Commissions Closer Look at Downtown Parking Rules appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
