Bel Air staff proposes shorter free-parking period for holidays; board asks for more review

Town staff presented a proposed resolution (12-60-25) to provide free on-street metered parking on town streets from Dec. 15 through Dec. 26, rather than the longer ThanksgivingthroughNew Year timeframe used in recent years. The measure is intended to encourage shopper turnover and support downtown businesses while reducing revenue loss to the parking fund compared with the longer free-parking period.

Finance staff estimated revenue reductions for the shorter period at roughly $3,000 to $3,500 in total. Staff provided sample weekly numbers: the first week of free parking compared with the last paid week would reduce revenue by nearly $600; the second week by about $800; the third by nearly $1,000. Staff and commissioners noted that parking-lot and garage spaces historically have not been included in free metered parking and that enforcement patterns differ across holidays (for example, some Saturdays and the day after Thanksgiving have had reduced enforcement in practice).

Several commissioners objected to shortening the free period, especially removing the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday), noting it is an important shopping day for downtown. Commissioners asked staff to gather more business input before the Oct. 20 town-meeting vote and to provide clearer revenue estimates. No formal vote on the resolution was taken at the Oct. 14 work session.