5:30 p.m. at the Port of Silverdale's offices

Parking has become a problem for some workers and shoppers that commute to Silverdale’s Old Town, and now the community council has called a meeting to to find solutions.

The Central Kitsap Community Council will hold a meeting June 20 by to address parking and traffic flow concerns.

Richard Shattuck, president of the community council, said the meeting was spurred by a petition introduced by multiple local merchants and citizens. The petition was given to Kitsap County Commissioner for District 3 Jrosh Brown. Shattuck said multiple store owners in the district were concerned with the four-hour parking limit  enforced around much of the district. Merchants felt that the time limit, which had been put into effect four years ago, placed an undue burden on employee parking and other facets of the businesses.

“Merchant’s employees were getting ticketed due to this,” Shattuck said. “Which made it difficult for employees to find spaces.”

Jeff Shea, Traffic Engineer with Kitsap County Public Works, is expected at the meeting along with Kitsap County Sherrif’s Office Patrol Chief Gary Simpson and former Kitsap County Commissioner Phil Best.

Maria Mackovjak, who owns Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery in the district signed the petition in solidarity with other merchants she feels are negatively impacted by the parking and traffic problems.

“It doesn’t make sense for employees to move their cars,” she said. “The limit also impacts how long customers stay in merchants shops, especially for special events.”

The meeting will offer an opportunity for residents and merchants to voice their concerns on the issues, Shattuck said.

“We will all engage in a discussion with merchants and residents about parking in the area and seek solutions,” Shattuck said.

Anyone concerned with parking or traffic flow in the the Old Town District is encouraged to attend the meeting and join in the discussion.

 

Contact Central Kitsap Reporter Staff Writer Patrick McDonough at pmcdonough@soundpublishing.com.

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