Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Sunset Beach Proposed Parking Changes (Summary)

The following was presented to SB Town Board Members on February 7, 2011.  We have been told this is only the parking committee's proposals and is not an official parking change document. The concern by island residents is that since the bridge has been finished, they expect to see huge volume of non-island residents flooding the beach area. While this maybe true, the reality is those on the island want to now restrict parking for those that live there and weekly summer renters, all others are not welcomed.

I understand there will be public responses to whatever the Board proposes and that they too are concerned about some issues.

The problem we see is that to visit during the summer season will require either metered parking or a weekly parking permit and that numbered streets are going to be 'no parking' zones. Those areas have always been used for parking, as long as one is off the road and obey signage. We think that parking meters solves nothing as people will pay or leave if all spaces are taken, it just creates an eye sore, something akin to NJ shore.

We'll see what is proposed by the Board. We all trust it will fit the style of southern hospitality and in keeping with the charm of the most beautiful barrier island in NC.

Please feel free to add comments and/or email us.

Dan and Adrienne Johnston
Calabash, NC

Here is the summary:

Summary of Draft Recommendations from Parking Committee parallel parking allowed on both sides of the street (with the direction of traffic) with no more than two contiguous parking places at any one parking site. Spaces to be designated. Once the planned bike/walk path is constructed, parking would not be allowed on the same side of the street as the path. (Committee voted unanimously). th Street and the inlet to increase the number of spaces. (Committee voted 81). st6th and 7th through 15th on the east side and 27th40th on the west side of the island. (Committee voted unanimously). parallel parking allowed on both sides of the street (with the direction of traffic) with no more than two contiguous parking places at any one parking site. Spaces to be designated. (Committee voted unanimously). we support unanimously the general plan previously developed by the Streetscape committee for the area along the street between North Shore and Main Street. The plan would increase designated spaces to approximately 63 along the east side of the street, and would incorporate a bike/walk path on the west side of the street. We also support unanimously the reconfiguration of the gazebo parking lot to add more spaces per Councilman DeVita’s previous presentation.
After group research and discussion since May, the committee’s general recommendations are:





1. Adopt new parking standards for each street as follows: a. Main Street, North Shore Drive, and Canal Drive
b. Parking would be changed from parallel to diagonal at the west end of Main Street between 40
c. No parking would be allowed on side streets 1
d. Marlin, Dolphin, Sailfish, or Cobia Streets
e. Sunset Blvd





2. That the Town convert the designated parking spaces to paid parking while incorporating a permit system that would allow town residents to use available spaces at no cost. It would be expected that there would be some nominal cost to cover the expense of producing and tracking these permits. (Committee voted unanimously).
3. That the Town ask DOT to adopt a lower speed limit along Main Street during the season (May through September?) after DOT conducts a traffic study. (Committee voted unanimously).

5. The Town adopt and enforces a ‘no overnight parking’ rule for all island public parking spaces.
6. Finally, there is an existing issue of folks parking on private property without permission (usually on undeveloped lots). Our Town police staff has told us that the D.A.’s office will not prosecute these infractions even if tickets are written. This is a loophole that the Town will need to work with both property owners and the appropriate County staff to resolve.

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