Council Debates $1.2M Arcade Parking‑Lot Redesign, Weighs Safety, Brownfields and Alternatives

Mayor Patricia Hart opened an extended discussion of a $1,200,000 proposed redesign of the Arcade parking lot presented by Economic Development Director Melissa Lindley and consultant materials from Harriman Associates. Lindley said the lot’s pavement is failing, drainage problems exist and Brownfields borings show “urban fill”; the current lot has 111 spaces and the design would add two spaces to reach 112, she said.

“People will have conflicts if as people back out,” Mayor Hart summarized from traffic consultant Al Godfrey’s review, adding that Godfrey told the council the proposal “doesn't meet the current safety standards” for aisle widths and turning radii. Lindley described alternatives Harriman proposed, including a slight reorientation of aisles and removing some islands to reduce backing into a through‑lane.

Councilor Tim Cusick objected to the scale and cost. “We’re gonna spend $1,200,000 to gain 2 parking places,” he said, adding that constituents favor more modest work such as milling, adding lights and limited drainage repairs. Cusick warned against a large taxpayer bill when smaller repairs might deliver similar benefits.

Lindley and other councilors pushed back on the notion that the project is only about adding spaces. Lindley said the plan includes safety upgrades, stormwater drainage work, new lighting and landscaped rain gardens intended to address blight and make the area more welcoming to downtown visitors. “It is seen as a blighted spot. That’s why we’re qualified to get this grant funding,” she said, referring to the CDBG application.

Councilors also discussed soil testing: Lindley said borings found one sample with a “slight amount of lead beyond 24‑inch depth” and that state DEP standards allow leaving covered, on‑site soil if repaved. Several councilors urged staff and Harriman to present cheaper options that focus on safety and maintenance tradeoffs. Councilor Cusick urged consideration of milling or grinding rather than full removal; Lindley said engineers prefer a solid base if urban fill is present and that milling might or might not suffice.

Tamara Whitmore of Gardiner Main Street urged accessibility improvements and said investment in the lot could leverage additional funds for property improvements. Multiple councilors proposed that Harriman return with designs oriented more like the existing layout (with clearer curbing and delineation), and that the council form a small project team — including a traffic professional, a public‑works representative and business owners — before finalizing a recommendation.

The council did not vote on a construction contract at the meeting. Council members directed staff to gather additional turning‑radius and aisle‑width data, ask Harriman for revised design options that address the safety and cost concerns, and convene an ad hoc team to review alternatives before any final authorization.