Possible parking solutions for Lewes

Parking is always an issue in beach towns, as an influx of visitors swarm the area. And Lewes is no different.

Two separate parking committees are looking for parking solutions for residents seeking more spaces.

The beach parking committee is looking to balance the needs of residents and visitors. Also, there’s the downtown parking committee, which focuses on the downtown district and neighborhoods.

Both of the committees met Monday to discuss more solutions and to hear from several residents.

One idea that seemed to sit well with everyone was the possibility of a permit system, just like their neighbors in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey.

The city manager, Anna Marie Townshend, says a big problem is the off street parking. “A lot of times its employees of businesses that are parking they are there for the whole shift, so people who need that parking end up parking a couple of blocks away and as more and more people come into town it becomes more of a challenge.”

Townshend says the committees’ see value in the permit system but they still need to work out some details.

But they can’t do this on their own. We’re told residents should bring forward their ideas because the committees want to hear from the community.

There will be a beach parking meeting September 6.