Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill is credited with the line that “all politics is local,” but after listening to recent public comments on Ordinance 848 at the town’s Council meeting, which proposes updates to Easton’s parking rules, one might be tempted to go further and say that all local politics is parking.
That may be an exaggeration, but the pushback at Tuesday night’s packed Town Council meeting was unmistakable. Ordinance 848 would revise the application of parking time limits on certain streets, the use of municipal parking lots, and the management of parking permits. The proposal sets time limits from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on designated streets, with a three-hour daily maximum in free spaces, clarifies the council’s authority to set parking meter rates, and updates permit rules and enforcement, including permit revocation for unpaid tickets. If approved, the ordinance would take effect 20 days after the mayor signs it or after a veto override. Public comment on the measure remains open, with final approval expected early next year. The Spy has selected a range of representative voices from this week’s meeting for the highlight reel that follows.
The Spy has selected a range of representative voices from this week’s meeting for the highlight reel that follows.
This video is approximately 12 minutes in length.
Patti R Lister says
Perhaps the Safeway property would lend itself as an option. I cannot envision the current proposed housing project as being viable considering the less than desirable location and views.A parking garage would solve a multitude of much needed issue’s. Revenue for the town and ample parking for employees of local businesses and parking for tourists. The Hillman garage in Annapolis is a good example. It met all requirements for the historic district and does not present as an eyesore.
Juanita Robbins says
If helpful, I had a parallel experience in FL on Monday. The town we visited recently installed Park and Go, with Q Code to pay for parking. No info on signs other than a number to enter, for what I assumed was the parking zone.
I took a friend, we planned for lunch and a day of shopping. When I arrived, I was stunned and thrilled, as there were so many open spaces! There were only 7 cars parked on this entire street. I pulled into a spot, we downloaded the app, and we both tried to pay for parking using the querty code. Our phones did not have the updated software version, and therefore we could not park. We each tried 5 times to get this to work! We drove up & down several streets, all now with the same parking signs, where before there were only 3 hour limit or resident only signs. There were more signs than parked cars. I am not exaggerating. I had to assume this was a most recent installation, as others had also not learned how or were unable to use the parking app. The 40 minute drive turned into an abandoned adventure.
We left, went to the next town, paid $15, plus tip, for valet, the only parking option in the shopping area, ate our lunch and shopped.
The only expenditure in the originally planned location was wasted fuel (and frustration).
I have taken visiting friends to that town innumerable times over 20 years and have never seen so many open parking spaces! I, and I assume many others, could not get the app to work.
Mary Smith says
Easton’s success is special, but this is also the predictable result of pushing nearly all growth, jobs, and services into one town. Demand concentrates, parking tightens, and every improvement gets harder.
Talbot’s villages once absorbed everyday activity. Modest, well-planned growth and services in and around villages can help distribute demand and ease pressure on Easton.