Beach looks to end temporary parking lots
If the Fort Myers Beach Town Council has its way, there may no longer be seasonal parking lots.
The issue was raised Monday at its workshop meeting at Town Hall as town council heard the about differences between the different types of parking – temporary, seasonal and permanent.
With the huge influx of daily visitors and so few parking spaces, the issue is always of vital importance.
Lots close to Times Square and the bridge charge $10 for parking, with lower prices as you move further away.
Temporary parking is for certain events such as sand sculpting and the scuba club, while seasonal parking is supposed to be for the eight months during the season.
Most seasonal lots eventually become permanent. Unfortunately, there are some seasonal lots that stay open year-round, yet remain classified as seasonal and don’t have to follow the regulations permanent lots do, officials said.
Permanent lots stay open year-round, but must have certain landscaped buffering, stormwater mitigation and lighting and signage standards, which seasonal lots do not.
One solution discussed would be to get rid of the seasonal title entirely to eliminate the gray area.
“We’ve permitted seasonal lots, but they have become permanent lots, and the criteria for seasonal and permanent lots are very different,” said Mayor Anita Cereceda. “The signing and buffering is different. It’s more regulated for permanent lots.”
Matt Noble, of community development, said there are still business owners and others who want to continue with the seasonal code.
Vice mayor Dan Andre told Noble that he thought the council had already voted to eliminate seasonal lots, which they had, saying that this was supposed to be settled two years ago and was frustrated with the inaction.
Nobel said the land development code had to go before the LPA and go back to council before it can be eliminated for good.
The LPA meeting is set for Nov. 10 and could come back to council for a first public hearing by Nov. 16.
He said one owner, who has had a seasonal permit for three years, has asked for one more before the land is developed.
Noble explained the ordinance says after three years, seasonal lots must move to become permanent, which Andre said creates a loophole.
“How long does it take them to be ready? Ten years? Fifteen years? It says in the ordinance three years. Why don’t we deny the seasonal parking permit after three years when they don’t meet the criteria?” Noble asked.
Mayor Anita Cereceda said she was torn. That while she would like to see the seasonal lots become permanent, she also would like for people to have somewhere to go.
“We get the most complaints that those businesses who do have the parking sell what they’re required to have,” Cereceda said.
After the meeting, Cereceda said the problem isn’t severe, as many seasonal lot owners have applied for and gotten permanent status. There are some on the main corridor who have stayed with the seasonal tag for numerous years, however. Those are ones who have to get on the same page or not be able to park cars.
“We’re headed so there aren’t any more seasonal lots. We either have a parking lot or we don’t,” Cereceda said. “No more gray area.”