LEWES, Del. — Lewes officials are taking a closer look at whether a residential parking permit program could help ease long-standing parking challenges throughout the city.
During Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Amy Marasco said Lewes is reviewing models used in Rehoboth Beach and other municipalities nationwide. A newly formed working group, which held its first meeting this week, will guide much of the research, with the bulk of the work expected to unfold next year.
City officials emphasize the need to strike a balance between residents, businesses and tourists who visit the area.
City leaders plan to study multiple permit options and present recommendations to council by May, allowing time to craft an implementation plan.
“The thought is to really use best practices from other communities,” Marasco said.
Currently, Lewes uses a metered parking system in two zones — downtown and the beaches — along with several non-metered lots throughout the city.
For many residents, parking has been a challenge for years.
Lewes resident Sara Sylwester believes the city could benefit from a new system.
“It would be nice… an extra luxurious thing if we had enough parking spaces for both the residents and visitors," said Slywester. "But I’m not sure how that will work.”
The working group is now focused on researching how residential permit programs function in comparable downtown areas, including Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach, to determine which practices might best fit Lewes.
But not all feedback has been positive. Local business owner Michiko Seto worries a permit system could create more problems than it solves.
“I’ve had stores in Bethany and Rehoboth, and it was part of the reason I didn’t stay,” Seto said. “The parking was always oversold… my staff could never find parking.”
Officials clarified the potential program would apply only to residential areas within the city limits — not to beach parking.
The working group plans to meet again in February, speak with other communities about their experiences, and bring a formal recommendation to City Council in May. Even with that timeline, officials say any new program likely wouldn’t launch for at least another year.