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Resolution to Authorize a Twelve-Month Residential Parking Program Pilot
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Department: Parking Operations Meeting Date: 11/17/2026 Contact Name: Chance Dunbar Public Hearing: No Contact Phone: 910-342-2786 Advertising Date/Advertised By: Attachments: Attachment #1: Resolution; Attachment #2: RPP Program Pilot Guidelines; Attachment #3: RPP Pilot Map
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this resolution is to authorize a twelve-month residential parking program pilot (“Pilot”) and business validation program on certain streets downtown.
BACKGROUND:
The City’s Residential Parking Permit Program (“RPP Program”) was first established in 1996, adding parking restrictions on 10 downtown blocks during the hours of 11:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m., daily, for resident-only permit parking. The RPP Program was revised in 2002 to add daytime parking restrictions for non-permit holders from 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday. The program was further revised in 2020 across five blocks, adding restrictions by closing the 6:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. “gap” and creating a residential-permit-only option with no parking for non-permit holders.
Downtown Wilmington’s commercial activity has continued to grow tremendously since the RPP Program’s inception and subsequent revisions. In the fall of 2025, City staff were tasked with performing a deep program analysis and evaluation. Following several months of data collection and input from various downtown stakeholders, including businesses, residents, and the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee, City staff developed parameters for a 12-month Pilot as shown in Attachment #2- RPP Program Pilot Guidelines. The purpose of this pilot is to separate commercial parking from residential parking by reducing the number of vehicles parked on residential blocks and encouraging businesses to direct patrons to use parking within the Central Business District (“CBD”). Additional goals of the Pilot are as follows:
Prioritize protecting downt...
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