Lewes workshop on parking permits set Jan. 30

After getting a chance to see how a parking permit system might look in Lewes, officials have decided to continue discussions with public input.

A public workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30 at the Rollins Center. 

During the Jan. 9 mayor and city council meeting, the potential addition parking permits on Lewes Beach received notable attention from residents. A recent review did not recommend implementation, but it did provide a glimpse of how it might play out if Lewes chose to move forward. Metered parking at Roosevelt Inlet, suggested in the review, was explained first by City Manager Ann Marie Townshend.

“If there is a permit system in place ... then there should be paid parking at Roosevelt Inlet so it is not the only small area where there’s free parking,” Townshend said. “It would inundate that area.”

Officials explained the May through September enforcement and permit levels. Spots would not be delineated, something the public has reportedly been against; instead, prohibited areas would be highlighted by signage. 

Townshend said if mayor and city council decides to implement a permit system, public feedback would be solicited throughout the year. Officials received a number of comments pertaining to the permit review, in addition to comments from previous meetings. 

Councilwoman Candace Vessella, who is conducting a citywide parking study, read a prepared statement acknowledging the city’s previous efforts involving parking. She encouraged people to review the minutes from previous studies, specifically mentioning a January 2022 beach parking public workshop. Vessella said she has read all 443 comments received from the exercise, which are available online.

Engineer George, Miles & Buhr determined there are 573 possible parking spaces from Roosevelt Inlet to Savannah Road. Of those, 397 are available, while 176 are possible, but obstructed. Obstructions are in the public rights of way, comprising things like landscaping, walkways and fence posts. In its report, GMB said delineation would be required for effective utilization of additional parking spaces.

Officials said any decision on a permit system for the 2023 season would need to be made by February.

“By the time March hits, there’s no way logistically that we can do it,” Townshend said, adding that things shouldn’t be rushed, but expectations should be managed.

Former Councilman Dennis Reardon, a Lewes Beach resident, said he believes there are two questions to be answered. The first is whether people want a permit system, and if they do, then what do they want it to look like. Reardon said he thinks the questions need to be separate because it would be a waste of time to do a workshop on something people aren’t interested in.

Vessella noted that roughly 45% of homes in Lewes are not occupied full time. Because it is the off-season, there was concern from residents in attendance Jan. 9 that holding a workshop now would not result in optimal engagement. Lewes Beach resident John Huber echoed that sentiment.

“It has to be during the summertime when the people being influenced by these decisions are here. [It can’t] be done in a vacuum,” Huber said.

Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba said he hoped Huber wasn’t implying officials were doing things under the radar, because these exercises have been in public. Saliba said Huber made a fair point in suggesting delaying until more people are in the area, but he believed a workshop is still needed.

Mayor and city council scheduled the initial workshop with the understanding that it would be the first of several.