A white heart covers the “NO” in a “NO PARKING” sign near 256 Main St. in Kingfield after selectmen recently changed parking regulations to ensure public safety. Submitted Photo

KINGFIELD — The Select Board addressed ongoing concerns about parking downtown Monday night, including recent changes to regulations solely to ensure public safety.

“We didn’t do it to discourage businesses downtown,” Chairman Wade Browne said. “We did do it to look out for the town, so no one gets run over. That is the only reason.”

Town Manager Leanna Ross Targett echoed Browne’s sentiment, saying “We do not want to discourage anyone doing business.” She said there are three parking spaces surrounding the Main Street building owned by Polly and Rob MacMichael. Two of them are on Depot Street and one on Main Street.

Polly MacMichael, owner of the restaurant Rolling Fatties, acknowledged the benefit of marked parking lines on Depot Street but raised concerns about the impact of “NO PARKING” signs on accessibility.

“It is super helpful and awesome to have the lines for parking on Depot Street,” MacMichael said. “However, we have always had an issue with parking in the town. The words written on the road saying ‘NO PARKING’ are not welcoming for people to access those buildings, like Anni’s (Market on Main Street). Before, there weren’t any spaces drawn on the road; there was just nothing there.”

She said the signs may discourage visitors from exploring downtown.

Targett said someone painted white hearts over the words “NO” in “NO PARKING,” which has been fixed. “We called the Sheriff’s Department for defacing public property but were told that the district attorney would not prosecute.”

“From our observation, people would not come and park and get out and walk around town for a couple of hours,” MacMichael said. “It would always be a quick stop, like dropping kids off at dance or quickly running in to grab a breakfast sandwich.”

MacMichael suggested adding clearer signs to direct visitors to available parking areas. “I asked for the lines on the road but also a sign that says ‘Parking on Depot Street.”

However, Browne said the Maine Department of Transportation rejected such signs.

“We would happily put a sign on our building that says ‘Public Parking on Depot Street this way,’” MacMichael said.

“There is nothing stopping you from doing that,” Browne responded.

The discussion also touched on broader safety issues.

MacMichael highlighted recommendations from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine to enhance pedestrian safety, including painting crosswalks and installing bike-friendly signs.

“I don’t disagree,” Browne said.

Selectman Christopher Rushton concurred.

MacMichael stressed the need for collaboration between the town and businesses to avoid unintended impacts on operations. “What’s done is done,” she said. “But in the future, maybe the town could work with businesses downtown. It is affecting my business, so that is why I am upset. In the future, when actions are being taken downtown that will affect businesses, it would be great to have foresight,” she said.

MacMichael suggested returning to diagonal parking lines instead of “NO PARKING” signs during future repainting projects. Browne agreed to revisit the idea.