The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen is again seeking a solution to parking in Harbor Island’s business district.
The board first considered adding paid parking only to Pelican Drive. The idea was initially suggested during a March 26 budget meeting as the board, faced with a $156,704 shortfall in the proposed budget, searched for additional revenue sources and landed on Pelican Drive’s summertime overflow beach parking. Beachgoers would pay by phone, so no meters or pay stations would be required.
The board held a public hearing on the matter April 8 and received pushback from Pelican Drive residents. Residents would still be able to park along the street using their hangtags, but they were concerned designating Pelican Drive as paid parking would dangerously increase traffic on the narrow road.
Even before opening the public hearing, Wrightsville Beach Mayor Bill Blair urged his board to not vote on the matter yet. If the town begins charging beachgoers to park on Pelican Drive, he said, it could cause those people to simply park in the spots on nearby Keel Street, Old Causeway Drive and Marina Street instead.
“What we do know is all these pieces are connected,” he added, saying any decision regarding paid parking on Harbor Island should be made carefully and comprehensively.
The reason for considering paid parking on Harbor Island goes deeper than just a search for extra revenue, Blair added. Adding pay-by-phone parking to Pelican Drive would only generate between $10,000 and $15,000 during one eight-month parking season.
The real issue, Blair said, is figuring out what solution works best for the nearby businesses, especially in light of a new restaurant, Poe’s Tavern, opening this summer on Old Causeway Drive. Owners of the property that previously housed the Middle of the Island restaurant also want to be a part of the parking discussion, Blair added.
There is some uncertainty as to whether paid parking would help or hurt those businesses. Poe’s Tavern co-owner Rusty Bennett met with board members April 14 to tell them he is in favor of paid parking because it would deter beachgoers from parking there, opening up more room for restaurant patrons.
But the aldermen also heard Jason Adams, founder of neighboring business Lighthouse Beer and Wine, speak against paid parking during the April 8 public hearing, saying it dissuaded potential customers when it was implemented in 2010.
Even if the board decides to add more paid parking on Harbor Island, it would likely not have the same parameters as parking on the beach strand.
Board members have discussed limiting enforcement from May 1 to September 15, allowing 15-minute free parking or not charging at all and enforcing a two-hour limit on spaces.
At the very least, alderwoman Lisa Weeks said, the town needs to prevent boaters unhitching and parking their trailers all day in the Harbor Island business district. She suggested marking specific areas where boat trailers can and can’t be parked.
Blair said in order to come to a solution before the summer season starts, the board will hold a public hearing about paid parking on both Pelican Drive and the Harbor Island business district after its board of adjustment meeting April 23.
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