Consultant recommends no new downtown Windsor parking measures for now

Parking consultant DIXON Resources Unlimited recommended no additional downtown Windsor parking measures for now after its July 23–25 study found combined on- and off-street occupancy never exceeded 85%.

A draft ordinance would let the town set posted parking time limits by resolution, generally from 15 minutes to 10 hours, with seasonal or event-related adjustments by the town manager or designee. The Town Board could authorize paid parking in public rights-of-way and public parking lots if non-monetary strategies could not meet occupancy, turnover or access goals. It would also allow residential and employee permit programs, with the manager or designee setting eligibility and fees, subject to board approval of fees by resolution. Staff said annual data collection was the current budget need, with no new employees or fees sought at that point.

Mayor Pro Tem Jason Hallett questioned whether the code change was needed now, and Town Board Member Ron Steinbach questioned its value if later parking changes still required an ordinance. Mayor Julie Cline said the strategic plan did not appear to set a parking percentage target and asked, “why are we just throwing rules out there to throw rules out there?” Another speaker described the draft as a basic framework for future parking management that would not require more enforcement now.

Annual parking data collection costs $25,000, a speaker told the board. The speaker said it was budgeted for the year and that annual results could show trends and answer public questions about parking. Steinbach questioned the need for yearly studies and wanted to see the effect after the back lots had been open for a year or two. The speaker said the town might switch to every-other-year collection if results stayed in a similar range for a long time.

DIXON’s study found the Main Street block between Third and Fourth streets, near the Windsor Mill, exceeded 85% occupancy during afternoon and evening hours on all three collection days. It found three community events temporarily increased occupancy near Boardwalk Park, with conditions returning to normal outside event hours. Town Board Member Rick Klimek said visitors to his home would have to arrive at 7 a.m. to find parking nearby, based on his observations. DIXON identified the Windsor Mill block and parking availability during recurring summer events as possible targets for focused management.