MILTON, DE -- Town leaders appointed a new parking committee to take lead in implementing plans and changes downtown, with potential metered parking as the most notable proposal.
At a meeting on Jan. 8, the town council discussed several parking proposals with the goal of clearly delineating parking, making remote parking more convenient, and investigating metered parking.
According to the written proposal, Milton would use the ParkMobile App, an app other beach towns like Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, and Dewey Beach all rely on. It would be installed in the municipal lot on Magnolia Street, in the spaces on Union Street from Chandler Street to Front Street and along Federal Street from Front Street to Mill Street. Daily metered parking would be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a 1-hour minimum at $2.00/hour and a 2-hour maximum.
A second zone would include parking “by permit only” along Broad Street and the unit block of Mill Street. A third zone would include all the remaining unrestricted parking on Town streets.
Some local residents support the need for solutions to a lack of parking, but say metered parking is not the way to go.
"It's difficult enough to find parking as it is and to require our volunteers to have to pay to park, I think it would be detrimental all the way around," says Cynthia Schmidt. "The same goes for the businesses and their employees."
In statement to WBOC, Milton Mayor John Collier says: "Currently, there is a proposal under consideration to delve into the introduction of paid parking and various alternative options. However, this notion remains conceptual and has not progressed toward actual implementation. This examination involves a comprehensive exploration of all potential resolutions, including partnerships between the public and private sectors. The town lacks ownership of suitable spaces to expand parking in the town center, but there are privately owned areas adjacent to it, occasionally used for parking during noteworthy events. While the town values the kindness of these owners, it cannot insist on their unrestricted use. The execution of such a program carries obstacles and associated expenses, and until a clear understanding of those obstacles and expenses is obtained, a final decision will not be made."
