The town’s new grass parking lot is pictured with about 60 vehicles last Sunday during the Berlin Farmers Market.

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(July 31, 2025) To establish and encourage use of the Town of Berlin’s new parking lot on the corner of West and Washington Street, the municipality’s Town Council green-lit the allocation of funds for improvements to the carpark, and approved updated parking restrictions.

At its meeting on Monday, July 28, the Berlin Town Council unanimously approved the allocation of $75,000 from development impact fees to the general fund for improvements to the parking lot at West and Washington Street. Upgrades will likely include a fence and a parking bumper arrangement, Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said.

Other improvement work may include a railroad tie or similar type of framing to create a perimeter or island around the signs denoting where cars can park within the new lot.

Additionally, to enhance town safety and encourage the use of the new parking spaces, the Town Council has passed upgraded no-parking designations. The restrictions, passed by the municipality’s governing group unanimously, will prohibit on-street parking on the west side of West Street, from Broad Street to Evans Road/Buckingham Lane; “therefore, making the full length and both sides of West Street ‘No Parking,’” Monday night’s meeting packet reads.

Parking will also be banned on the west portion of Washington Street, from West Street to Broad Street/Washington Street. Signage noting the no-parking rules will be erected, letting drivers know that violations may result in their vehicles being towed.

Councilman Jack Orris stated that a resident had reached out to him, suggesting that the no-parking designation on both sides of West Street should end at West Buckingham Road, rather than extending down to Evans Road.

“The reasoning behind that was, in [the resident’s] view, parking does not seem to be that much of an issue down there because it is a further walk to the town center,” Orris said.

Berlin Police Department Chief Arnold Downing maintained that the parking ban should be consistent all down West Street for simplicity, and, because, “when you’re parking, you’re almost halfway in the driving portion,” he said.

The police chief added that they will begin writing citations to parking violators once the appropriate signage is installed.

Pointing to recent usage trends, Councilman Steve Green said the new parking restrictions are needed. Green counted 28 cars parked along West Street last Sunday during the farmers market, despite the new lot being available and less of a walk. Green added approximately 80 vehicles used the the town’s new lot.

“It proves the point, we have to keep [cars] off the street for public safety reasons and increase the use of the lot,” the councilman said. “If we don’t do it, it will continue to happen, and it’s going to continue to spill into other areas.”

The on-street parking restrictions will take effect once the signs are received and erected. Residents or businesses impacted by the new rules may contact the town via email at mayorzack@berlinmd.gov. The municipality will review potential issues on a case-by-case basis and assist in problem-solving. A possible solution could be to permit the use of the lot free of charge to Berlin locals who are adversely affected by the change.

Tyndall maintained at the governing group’s July 14 meeting that these measures would expire after 12 months. At that time, the resident or business owner must have had a long-term plan in place to accommodate the parking ban.

Officials maintained that the decision to enforce no-on-street parking zones is to guarantee public safety, given that West Street is already narrow. When cars are parked along the road, the limited space can restrict emergency access and increase the risk of accidents.

Furthermore, adding a pay-to-park lot, which the new carpark will eventually become with the installation of ParkMobile, near free on-street options, would discourage use of the new lot and exacerbate the safety issues on the already too small West Street.

The new parking restrictions were passed by the Town Council unanimously at Monday’s meeting.