The Parking Subcommittee of the Wiscasset Public Advisory Downtown Committee submitted its recommendations for downtown parking Tuesday.  Some of the recommendations were known, based on Maine Department of Transportation suggestions and statements by police that certain parking spaces were illegal. The latest proposal from the subcommittee recommends seasonal parking spaces, several angled parking spaces, and loading and unloading zones.

On Main Street, in front of the former Golden Wok, the subcommittee recommended a loading and unloading zone, which could also be used to drop off and pick up passengers. There would be angled parking in front of Marston House. One of those spaces would be handicapped parking.

On Fort Hill Street, the closest parking spot to the crosswalk would be eliminated because it does not meet the 30-foot distance required between the crosswalk and parking spaces. The next parking space would have a 15-minute limit. Parking would be allowed after the first driveway. Police Chief Jeff Lange said according to the road commissioner, one homes on that street has a driveway that is not legal, because it causes the person parking in that space to hit the sidewalk while making the turn. The driveway belongs to James Kochan and wife Kim Dolce, who disputed Lange’s claim.

One of the parking spaces adjacent to the post office would be removed because it is too close to the crosswalk. Two spaces would remain, and one of them would be handicapped. The spaces on Federal Street beyond the post office would be re-angled to allow more parking. The postmaster asked for some of the spaces to be labeled for employee use, but Lange said he could not make that change without select board approval.

South Middle Street would have no parking on the west side of the street, and on the east side, the closest spot to the crosswalk would be removed. The remaining two spaces would be labeled “No parking between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.” The PAC requested at least one of the spaces be labeled handicapped; it is possible the spaces would only be restricted seasonally. In the parking lot behind Treats, the first spot is designated handicapped.

On South Water Street, two spaces would be removed on the east side from Main to 37 Water St. Some spaces would be restricted to night parking in season. Two spots would be labeled 10-minute parking only. If the lot is not built at the Haggett building, the first spot after the restricted spaces would be handicapped. There would be no parking on the west side to Big Foot Alley. If the parking lot is built, there would be three handicapped spaces.

On the north side of Main, at Railroad Avenue, there would be loading/unloading zones from the street to the first parking spot on the water side, and then two spots on the west side for handicapped parking. Three more spaces would be in the large lot. On North Water Street, there is no daytime parking on the entire east side of the street. The front of Red’s Eats is a loading zone, and beyond that, parking is restricted to overnight. There is no parking on the west side until the first alley. Parking will be replaced on Water Street after the alley to Lincoln on the west side.

On North Middle Street, the first space would be removed, with one spot remaining as restricted parking. After the driveway, parking is permitted up to Lincoln Street. There would be no parking on the west side of the street from Main to Lincoln.

The plan originally called for the lot on Middle Street to be restricted to permit parking only, for employees in the area and downtown residents. Lange was asked if the permit parking could be swapped out for spaces on Railroad Avenue, and he said he was providing only a recommendation, and that the PAC and the select board would make the final decision.

Lange also proposed metered parking spots in the lot on Railroad Avenue and the new lot on Water Street if it is constructed, with kiosks for paid parking. These could be programmed to give residents free overnight parking and special parking rates for employees. Lange said any fees would be set by the select board, and half the fees and fines earned could be used for maintenance on Main Street. The police department also recommended finding space for electric vehicle charging, which could be another way to raise revenue and encourage people to park and shop and go to restaurants while their cars are charging.

The PAC made a tentative change to the lamp style and height owing to dark sky requirements. Member Seaver Leslie said he would contact the company and determine if they could provide dark sky technology in the type of lamp fixture Wiscasset had agreed to; MDOT Project Manager Ernie Martin cautioned that if it were possible, there would be a time delay and possibly an additional cost, which MDOT would not fund.

The PAC asked the subcommittee to include the recommendations of some of the members and bring the recommendations back June 18, when the PAC meets at 5 p.m.