Staff Writer

With parking limited to two hours in Dock Square and on Temple Street in Kennebunkport, the closest unlimited, free parking is along Maine Street. Now town officials are considering limiting it to timed parking as well. 

Since there is no time limit, Kennebunkport Police Chief Joe Bruni said spots are filled for long periods and cars circle the area waiting for spaces to open. He said some cars are parked for eight hours or more, suggesting business owners or employees are using the closest parking to their work. Bruni mentioned the issue at a recent selectmen’s meeting, but it was tabled for further investigation. 

“We want to do more research and get all points of view from businesses, residents and town officials,” Bruni said. 

Selectmen Chairman Mat Lanigan, who owns the Emporium gift shop in Dock Square, said he is not opposed to looking at timed parking for Maine Street and would be supportive if Bruni provides more information. 

“I don’t know the full extent of what he is proposing, and we are working on more research on effects of the location,” Lanigan said. 

He said he anticipates the issue will be raised again at the next meeting scheduled for May 14. Lanigan said he asks his employees to park in the public lot by the Village Fire Station on North Street, but with open parking closer, he cannot enforce where they choose to park.

“There is no designated spot for employees in Dock Square,” Lanigan said. “It would be more beneficial to have a location for employees to park, but I’m at one end of town. People who work in Union Square or at the Landing may want to park closer to town hall.”

Other business owners are less supportive of the timed parking proposal. Carrots and Company owner Amy Gaynor said parking is a big issue around town, and when her female employees close for the night around 10 or 11 p.m. they have a long, dark walk to public parking on North Street. 

Sandie Tynik, owner of Stem to Stern and Dock Square Coffee, suggests her employees be dropped off at work or plan on arriving early to find a spot and walk into town. She said reserve officers have been available in the past to escort employees back to their cars, but Shoot the Moon owner Dinorah Spaulding said it is difficult for  employees to get back to their cars that late at night. 

Coastal Jewelers owner Susan MacDonald said it is already hard to find parking in town. 

“Where are all the people who work in town going to park? This should make us focus on employees using the public parking so there is more for customers, but two hours is not enough time to explore. Maybe three hours would be more realistic,” MacDonald said. 

Too Cool owner Denis Salvas said he tells his employees to “park wherever they can,” but also is concerned limiting parking would not give visitors enough time to explore the area. 

“Two hours is not enough anyway. People have to park, walk to town and then shop,” Salvas said. 

“It is two hours everywhere else, but if people would want to spend more time, they’d have to move their car,” Tynik said. 

Bruin said officers on duty currently monitor timed parking spots, mark tires to keep track and leave $25 tickets for those who exceed the time limit. That fine increases to $30 if it’s not paid within 48 hours. He said the department would practice the same protocol to monitor parking along Maine Street if it were to be timed. 

“The majority is taken by employees so there is not a turnover,” Bruni said. “With more people parking there’s less driving around. The goal would be to keep traffic down.”

Bruni said he anticipates a final decision will be made before Memorial Day weekend.

Staff writer Emma Bouthillette can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 237.