Biddeford City Council Workshop on Lester B. Orcutt Parking and Safety - August 11, 2026

The Biddeford City Council held a workshop on August 11, 2026, to discuss a proposal to add parking and pedestrian safety improvements on Lester B. Orcutt Street. The meeting included presentations from city staff, the Biddeford Pool Improvement Association (BPIA), and Maine Audubon, followed by public comment and council deliberation. No votes or decisions were made.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Multiple residents expressed strong opposition to the city's proposal, arguing it is an unnecessary expenditure, would ruin the character of the area, and that adequate parking already exists. Mary Merkel called it a "waste of taxpayers' dollars." Rick Trottier suggested alternative uses for the funds. Julie Smythe asked the council to preserve the area as-is.
• Becky Marshall and Chris Powers stated they had never struggled to find parking while visiting. John Conroy presented a survey showing an average of 11 cars parked on the street, questioning the need for additional spaces.
• Ken Vicks commended the city for tackling the issue, noting that the original focus of the Traffic Committee was safety for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

Discussion Items

• City Staff Proposal: Public Works Director Jeff Demers presented a concept plan to create 52 new parallel parking spaces and a five-foot paved pathway along Lester B. Orcutt from Ocean Avenue to 9th Street. He emphasized the plan was driven by public safety and designed to move vehicles entirely off the travel lanes. The plan was structured as Phase 1, with a potential for future phases on surrounding streets. Director Demers estimated the cost using city crews and recycled materials would be significantly lower than a private contractor, potentially $70,000 to $75,000 for a fully paved version.
• BPIA Presentation: Chris from the Biddeford Pool Improvement Association strongly opposed the city's concept. He presented their own data arguing there are approximately 400 public parking spaces in Biddeford Pool and 82 fully off-street spots on Lester B. itself. He proposed an alternative: designate 15 existing spaces for Biddeford residents only via a sticker system and improve signage to direct visitors to other available nearby streets. The BPIA expressed concern that widening the road could increase vehicle speeds and worsen safety.
• Maine Audubon Concerns: Judy Camuso, President of Maine Audubon, stated their primary concern is the potential overuse of the East Point Sanctuary. She noted 5,000 visitors per month in July and August of 2025 and reported 11 informal "sneak trails" causing erosion. She committed to working with the city and BPIA but warned against "loving the resource to death."
• Council Values & Deliberation:
  • Mayor LaFountain framed the history, noting the issue originated from safety complaints brought to the Traffic Committee by BPIA members.
  • Councillors generally agreed that public safety and public access were the core values. Councillor Pearson emphasized that safe parking means being off the roadway. Councillor Cody requested data on safe spots (off-road parking). Councillor Lassard framed it as safe and free access to recreation, a key affordability issue.
  • Councillors Badney and Boston noted that vegetation and boulders in the city right-of-way currently obstruct potential parking, creating a false perception of scarcity, and Councillor Boston requested a site walk.
  • Councillor Kurtz stated the proposal seemed like a "solution in search of a problem" without compelling data. Council President Beaupre cautioned against a divisive approach, recalling past conflicts over the street.
  • Director Demers clarified that the plan is a starting point for discussion and that the city is open to modifying it based on council and public feedback.

Key Outcomes

• The council took no votes, as this was a workshop session.
• The council agreed to hold a future site walk of the area, likely in August, to better understand the parking and traffic conditions.
• BPIA committed to sharing its street-by-street parking survey data with the council.
• Maine Audubon will share specific trail usage data from their counter.
• Director Demers will gather data on the total number of currently available off-street (safe) parking spaces in the neighborhood.
• The city will continue public engagement on the topic before any formal proposal is brought forward for a vote.