BY ALEX RUOFF • DELAWARE COAST PRESS
DEWEY BEACH — Town officials are expected to discuss a controversial decision to expand public parking that some residents feel may give their summer spots to weekend visitors.
Commissioners are slated to discuss a proposed ordinance that officials said could provide close to 1,700 additional public parking spaces in town. Administrators said it could be the answer to many of Dewey’s parking problems.
The ordinance would require homeowners to adhere to the existing ordinances that regulate driveway size and designated public spaces for parking. The law currently requires homeowners to have one 20-foot or two 10-foot driveways, Building Official Bill Mears said, but many were built before the law was in place or without notification of the town.
“Right now we can only look at new construction,” Mears said. “Until an ordinance is set we can’t do anything.”
Officials said they are hoping to better define street parking to reclaim public property that is current being used by local homeowners as private land.
But many feel that limiting parking for residents and property owners isn’t fair.
“The problem is the lack of off-street parking,” said resident Chip Hunsicker. “If you let people park in front of my place, you’ll have weekend people parking there and just leaving their cars.”
Hunsicker said the entire area in front of his West Street home is utilized for parking to accommodate visitors during the summer.
“You can’t fit that many people in a driveway,” he said. “They would have to drive around looking to find a place.”
Annette Rowe, a local resident who rents out her home during the summer, said many property owners have figured out the best parking solutions for themselves over the years.
“Everyone has their own way of dealing with all the cars and it’s worked out for me,” she said.
Rowe said most people on her street allowed for public parking, but want to use as much space as they can for their own vehicles.
“You get so many group homes, how could you not let them park like they do,” she said.
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Dewey Hopes to Expand Parking
BY ALEX RUOFF • DELAWARE COAST PRESS
DEWEY BEACH — Town officials are expected to discuss a controversial decision to expand public parking that some residents feel may give their summer spots to weekend visitors.
Commissioners are slated to discuss a proposed ordinance that officials said could provide close to 1,700 additional public parking spaces in town. Administrators said it could be the answer to many of Dewey’s parking problems.
The ordinance would require homeowners to adhere to the existing ordinances that regulate driveway size and designated public spaces for parking. The law currently requires homeowners to have one 20-foot or two 10-foot driveways, Building Official Bill Mears said, but many were built before the law was in place or without notification of the town.
“Right now we can only look at new construction,” Mears said. “Until an ordinance is set we can’t do anything.”
Officials said they are hoping to better define street parking to reclaim public property that is current being used by local homeowners as private land.
But many feel that limiting parking for residents and property owners isn’t fair.
“The problem is the lack of off-street parking,” said resident Chip Hunsicker. “If you let people park in front of my place, you’ll have weekend people parking there and just leaving their cars.”
Hunsicker said the entire area in front of his West Street home is utilized for parking to accommodate visitors during the summer.
“You can’t fit that many people in a driveway,” he said. “They would have to drive around looking to find a place.”
Annette Rowe, a local resident who rents out her home during the summer, said many property owners have figured out the best parking solutions for themselves over the years.
“Everyone has their own way of dealing with all the cars and it’s worked out for me,” she said.
Rowe said most people on her street allowed for public parking, but want to use as much space as they can for their own vehicles.
“You get so many group homes, how could you not let them park like they do,” she said.