EEDC Members:
Lon Seidman, Chairman
Bill Foster
Norman Needleman
Lee Thompson
Mark Uihlein
David Winstead

November 20, 2004
By CHARLES STANNARD, Courant Staff Writer

ESSEX -- An agreement with a private partnership has opened up for public use a parking lot behind the Village Provisions store on the south side of Main Street downtown.

First Selectman Phil Miller said Friday that Bank Lane LLC, a partnership organized by the Paul family, the owners of the Griswold Inn, has allowed the town to begin using the lot for a nominal fee of $1 a year. Miller said that the lot would provide at least 20 additional parking spaces for the downtown area. He said the town approached the partnership about using the lot and found them "very interested in anything they could do to help the town."

Miller said that the town has agreed to assume maintenance of the lot, including clearing of brush and snow and ice removal. He said that the town would also pay for the installation of at least one light for the lot, which is accessed from Bank Lane. "We will make it a safe and accessible parking lot," Miller said.

Miller said that he would ask owners and managers of the businesses on Main Street to encourage their employees to begin using the lot for daytime parking. "That would make more spots on Main Street available for citizens and visitors," he said.

Town road crew workers began clearing brush from the lot Friday, and the lot is expected to be ready for use next week. Installation of lighting for the lot might take a little longer, Miller said.

Miller said he also plans to organize a five member committee to review parking and traffic flow issues for the downtown village and make recommendations to the board of selectmen. He said that the committee, which would include several village residents, would be asked to complete its work by the end of the year.

One of the issues to be reviewed by the committee is parking on Pratt Street, a residential street that runs parallel to Main Street on the street's north side. The board has discussed limiting parking on the side of Pratt Street that abuts the back of the Main Street properties. Another concern is preventing parked vehicles from blocking private driveways on Pratt Street.