March 1, 2022
Parking Downtown has been a topic of discussion well before I was elected in 2018. Our population continues to grow and more people are going Downtown which is a good thing for our local businesses. The biggest parking challenge is during special events, such as the Harvest Festival, 4th-of-July, Thursday night concerts at Boardwalk Park, etc. Have you gone to The Mill on a Friday night?
Downtown parking has become a larger concern lately due to the “Backlots” project. Unfortunately, there is a lot of inaccurate information being communicated on social media to intentionally mislead people. I have been advocating to add more parking Downtown, not take it away. If re-elected, expanding parking Downtown will be a top priority. In fact, the Town Board already dedicated $1 million in the 2022 budget to improve Downtown parking which could mean acquiring additional land for parking, adding parking on town-owned land, and/or making private parking lots available to the public. We will likely spend even more on parking in 2023 and beyond. I am open to building a parking garage depending on the location, height, cost, etc.
The Town Board and town staff are working on short term and long term solutions to our downtown parking challenges. I cannot discuss all options or locations as it could interfere with negotiations. Therefore, I suggest that people remain patient as our Parking Study will be communicated to the public soon, possibly before the election on April 5, 2022. Any proposed project will have several opportunities for public input before it is voted on for approval by the Town Board.
The Windsor Town Board and town staff are currently working on the parking challenge independent of any potential new developments, such as the “Backlots” project. Any new development would be required to provide parking for their development within their development. I would not approve adding businesses or residential units Downtown without addressing parking. The Mill was an exception and was approved without adding parking before I was elected. It was the right thing to do at the time, but we can see the result and cannot keep adding attractions without expanding parking.
I also support extending CR-70 westward north of Windsor Lake as a “northern bypass” and rerouting HW-257 north along Hollister Lake Road (CR-19) to Harmony Road. Both of these options would reduce traffic on Main Street through Downtown, especially truck traffic.
I am personally very excited about Mo Betta Gumbo, William Oliver’s Publick House, and Cancun Mexican Grill and Cantina coming to Downtown Windsor. I am committed to make sure there is adequate parking for people to enjoy these new restaurants, their favorite existing restaurants, other Downtown businesses, and Boardwalk Park.
District 2 voters can be confident that a vote for Barry Wilson is a vote to improve Downtown which cannot be done without improving Downtown parking.