We taxpayers support the city’s parking education effort. In 2012, a planning team was hired to study the current parking conditions in Biddeford and the mill district. The study team reviewed all available parking resources, studied utilization of spaces, and examined the appropriateness of the parking system to meet today’s conditions and accommodate future needs. A summary includes the following: On-street, two-hour parking spaces are not turning over; municipal parking lots are under-utilized; core area blocks are projected/assumed to have parking deficits in the future; and there is a general perception within the community of a lack of parking downtown.
We have more than sufficient parking for our current needs. However, if projected/assumed growth on the next 20 years will require more parking, let’s be smart about it. Let’s document on a yearly basis our actual parking shortages. After 10 years of yearly documentation/facts, we could then make an informed/intelligent decision.
Current parking needs for the following businesses are unknown: Portland Pie Co., Angel Rox textile opration, Impact Fitness, Maine Pie Co., Hands Free Vehicle Technologies, A Real Estate Company and Hyperlite Mountain Gear.
Future parking needs of the mill district are beyond the scope of taxpayers’ responsibility. In fact, we question the wisdom of a property evaluated at $10 million while paying on only the first $2 million of evaluation. Talk about lost revenue. Must be one of the five TIF districts we have in Biddeford. In addition, a recent article (print media and blog posts), stated owners don’t need a parking garage to survive and thrive. We have the ability to combine the existing surface parking that we have available now on site through an aggressive parking management plan. We also have the ability to demolish buildings to create surface parking.
Some say to avoid raising property taxes, we need to expand the tax base. Actually, there is no publically documented data to support that claim/position. In fact, tax breaks cost more than they deliver. Incentive programs cost more than they deliver. A report prepared for the state by Investment Consulting Associates of Massachusetts found that the Pine Tree Development Zone program’s costs exceed its benefits. Specifically, it said the PTDZ delivered total direct benefits to the state of $358 million in 2012, in terms of people employed and salaries and total sales in the state. The program however, had $457 million in total direct costs related to lost taxes, administrative costs, overhead and other costs. Saco has built approximately 1,400 housing units since June 1, 2001, yet property taxes have steadily increased. Just ask Saco Citizens for Sensible Taxes.
There is more to Biddeford than Main Street, the mills and the urban core neighborhoods. Streets are crumbling, sidewalks are deplorable and roofs are leaking. We should focus on the present and that also means economic development that will attract jobs to Biddeford that offer benefits, pay a real living wage and that will help fund the heart of this city. Working people buy homes, pay taxes and spend money. Seems like the focus has been on the down-town at the expense of uptown for too long.
All too often, we are compared to Portland. Portland is the largest city in the State of Maine with a population of 66,318 (urban area population of 203,914). Portland has a working waterfront (Commercial Street over two miles long, straight and wide road). Portland has a fderal Courthouse and a United States Customs House; Cruise Ship Nova Star Portland to Yarmouth Nova Scotia; Casco Bay Line; Portland Pipe Line that imports crude oil; Portland Yacht Services; a $1 billion bridge that crosses over to South Portland, not to mention that I-295 cuts right through Portland. Comparing Biddeford to Portland is like comparing the Biddeford High School football Tigers to the National Football League’s elite team, the Seattle Seahawks. Let’s keep it real ”“ compare apples to apples.
Taxpayers see the big picture. We know/accept our responsibility for the funding of:
Ӣ schools: Primary; Intermediate; Middle; JFK; Center of Technology; special education and the recent $38 million Biddeford High School renovation; all with approximately 30 school buses.
”¢ public safety: police department and the fire department ”“ both are very well-equipped.
Ӣ recently renovated/expanded sewer treatment plant.
”¢ DPW ”“ arguably the nicest DPW building in the state, with approximately 180 vehicles.
Ӣ recent implementation of a very costly curbside recycling collection program.
Ӣ city collects approximately $3 million annually in excise taxes (intended use is to fix our roads).
Ӣ our long term debt is more than $67 million.
UCLA Professor of Urban Planning Donald Shoup wrote a book called “The High Cost of Free Parking.” He writes, even with meters, the city can create free parking, disabled parking, short-term parking, employee parking, resident parking, visitor parking and/or other options to fit the need of the community. Shoup also argues that free parking contributes to automobile dependence, urban sprawl, extravagant energy use and a host of other problems.
Initially, Aug. 20, 2013, the administration wanted to commit public funds and/or Tax Increment Financing for the development/construction of a parking garage in the mill district, in a public/private partnership. Biddeford concerned citizens objected to the use of the public’s money for a public/private partnership. We requested an agenda item: “Do you favor using public funds and/or TIF for the development/construction of a parking garage in the mill district of downtown Biddeford?”
Those responsible for setting the agenda changed our request. The Aug. 20, 2013 agenda item 2013.73 was listed as Approval/Downtown Parking Garage Referendum Question. Our concern was about the use of the public’s money for a public/private partnership. We knew the issue. It was well publicized in television meetings and local print media. Residents/taxpayers from all over Biddeford, from Cathedral Oaks to Granite Point, Hills Beach, Fortune Rocks, Biddeford Pool, Granite Street Extension etc. ”“ all want their voice/vote to count, especially on this issue. The word on the street is “an issue of this magnitude should be decided by us voters. We are well-informed, knowledgeable and educated voters. Remember our favorite incincerator? We the people said no, yet elected officials said yes ”“ it’s the state of the art technology, you will never hear it, smell it or notice the traffic, angels will flow from the stack.
Remember the $38 million Biddeford High School renovation ”“ we did the right thing, we said yes, although many of us would have preferred to get on the state list for funding assistance like Sanford, where the State of Maine is poised to fund $92.1 million of the new school and the city’s share will be $7.9 million. That is 92 percent state funded. Old Orchard Beach Council Chairman Shawn O’neil just announced OOB has abandoned its metered parking plan, stating “you elected us to listen, and we did.” Bottom line is: Biddeford voters will decide on Nov. 4 whether the city should install parking meters downtown.
Paul Therrien, concerned taxpayer; Vince Keely, business owner, concerned taxpayer; Charles Sherman, MMA, Ret. GE North America Power Systems Sales;
Richard Guay, former city councilor;
Dorothy Cook, concerned taxpayer;
Howard Hanson, former city councilor and school board member (chairman BHS renovation committee);
Paul Camire, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, branch head nuclear quality control department;
Rachelle Therrien, Retired National and Pan Am Airlines;
Donald Cormier, former J.J. Nissen employee; Bonnie Jensen, retired Medicare employee; Ron Peaker, former city councilor, school board member, chairman Charter Review Commission;
Joanne Giroux, former school superintendent’s administrative assistant; Maureen Lyons, concerned Biddeford resident; Stella Sherman, artist
Celene Therrien, nurse, concerned taxpayer; Bruce Martin, retired police officer;
Robert Brulotte, retired Navy yard employee; Terry Belanger, writer/author “My Innocent Mind”; William Robins, tool design engineer
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
