Rockport advances proposed Village parking lot to engineering phase
ROCKPORT — After talking at length Sept. 28 about a conceptual plan for a new parking lot in Rockport Village, sited on a bank overlooking the harbor, the Rockport Select Board has approved moving forward with additional design and engineering work.
“The plan they reviewed was a concept, which the Board liked,” said Rockport Town Manager William Post, on Oct. 7. “ I have approved a contract with Gartley and Dorsky engineering for the additional work.”
Plans call for a lot to be constructed off of Main Street in Rockport Village next to the existing wastewater pump station. Drawings indicate the lot would be accessed via the same driveway that the wastewater engineers now use, which lies at the intersection of Main and Central streets, at the east end of the Goose River Bridge.
Design work includes retaining the existing path that runs from Main Street down to the harbor. That path was engineered and built by Eagle Scout Miles Ingraham in 2009.
The cost for the engineering work and bid administration is $10,500 with an estimate and recommendation for geotechnical services in the amount of $6,500 for a total of $17,000, according to Town Manager William Post, in a memo to the board. The money spent on the parking lot project derives from a $15,000 State of Maine Shore and Harbor grant received by the town this past year.
“Funding for this additional design and engineering work can be allocated from the Public Works budget and/or the Downtown TIF account,” Post wrote.
There has been criticism of the parking lot proposal among citizens who question whether a new lot in the Village is to benefit a private venture to build a new hotel just up the road on Central Street.
To that, the Select Board was vocal in response at its Sept. 28 meeting.
“There’s been a parking group consisting mostly of town staff that have been looking at parking issues over Rockport,” said Chair Debra Hall, providing historical context to the lot proposal.
Board member Jeff Hamilton said the proposal was not, “something that we have heard before. It is not something that the Select Board has had in its back pocket for a long time for providing parking for a downtown development activity.”
He added that parking has been an issue, either real or perceived for many years, and highlighted through the library construction process, and “this parking committee was sanctioned by the Town of Rockport.”
It’s a not a done deal nor done with a specific purpose, he said.
Board member Mark Kelley added that, “it is not a done deal,” and said a retaining wall there has been talked about in the past; “it just never materialized.”
He said it would help with the positioning and storage of boats further down at the lower harbor parking lot.
“We, as the Select Board, have been saying now for at least a year or more that we, as town officials, that we have a responsibility to make sure that we have sufficient parking in the town,” said Chair Debra Hall.
She said Denise Munger, a board member, has observed the parking problem is when there are town meetings at the Opera House or Bay Chamber events.
Hall also said the Town Public Works Director Mike Young has been suggesting the site be a potential parking lot for at least five years.
“This has nothing to do with the hotel, and I want Bill to talk with us about how we are assured that it won’t be used by the hotel,” said Hall.
Post responded: “I just want to reiterate that, too.... This conceptual parking lot plan was created by Gartley and Dorsky as part of a larger engineering plan for the harbor, in general.”
He said the lot is one small pice of that larger plan.
The lot is to benefit the harbor, businesses on Central Street and residents, he said.
“It wasn’t designed with the hotel in mind,” said Post.
The proposed location would not interfere with gravel parking area down by the harbor, he said.
There will be public input and work sessions before the design moves before, he said. It could be a metered parking lot, two- or one-hour allotments, as ways to mitigate longer term parking use.
“It is property that the town owns,” said Hall. “Of course, aesthetically, we know the value of the harbor and we, as a board, are not going to do anything stupid in terms of ruining the aesthetics of the harbor.”
“Anything we do to that bank might be an improvement, aesthetically,” said Hamilton.
Hall agreed and said, “it’s not a pretty area.”
Munger said it could be landscaped with appropriate lighting.
Hall said she understood residents’ concern about overhead lighting, and suggested downlighting, if plans proceed.
Bill Lane, Rockport resident and Gartley and Dorsky engineer, outlined the larger harbor plan improvements that include dredging and pier strengthening, as well as the parking proposal.
He described the specifics of the 28-space and 17-space lot concepts.
Lane said that adjacent to the pump station, the property consists of fill, but there will be exploration for granite ledge.
How many parking spaces spaces do we have currently, asked Michelle Hannan.
Post said he did not have that information at hand.
Lane said the substantial cost would be in the wall construction.
Hall said that going forward the Maine Dept. of Transportation would be involved in planning, given that Central Street and the Goose River Bridge is part of old Route 1.
Post said the cost of the parking lot could be recouped through metered parking, and use downtown TIF funds. He did not think grants would be available, but “certainly would be looking.”
Hall said an October meeting discussion topic might further explore a metering system to pay for the lot.
Kelley pointed out a Camden system whereby businesses in the downtown paid to the town to subsidize a parking lot there.
Lane said trees would need to be removed during construction.
Post said the parking committee is looking at what exists might be better refined. The committee is also looking at other properties for potential parking, and making some streets one-way.
Munger asked about the general goal for how many parking spaces are needed.
Post responded that the town has no official parking study but acknowledges there is a general issue with parking.
“We don’t have a set number of spaces that we are shooting for,” he said. “We are just kind of looking everywhere.” He noted that the parking task force is looking at other properties in Rockport Village as potential parking sites.
Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657
