Holmes Beach Commission Chair Judy Titsworth says there’s just one word to sum up the parking situation in residential neighborhoods: Sad.
“Never did I think in my 50 years living here we’d need permit parking, but it’s changed. I understand what you’re all going through. People are different now and it’s too bad,” Titsworth said.
Holmes Beach commissioners Dec. 10 took a favorable view of a plan to ban parking on streets and in the right of way in residential neighborhoods.
“We’re not just out to build regulations. There’s a real need,” traffic committee chair Jayne Christensen told commissioners.
She told commissioners that as she headed out her door for city hall that evening, she saw that cars lined her street. And she saw that one of the drivers walking to his car made a pit stop to urinate in her neighbor’s lawn.
“So it was really fitting,” she said. “This is something we deal with all the time.”
She said in addition to trespassing, there are other problems: Emergency vehicles and driveways are sometimes blocked. Litter is left behind. And resident safety and peace of mind is being disrupted.
“I struggled to find a community that had residential street parking. We’re not reinventing the wheel here. It’s already been done,” Christensen said. She did research for sample ordinances that ban street parking. The examples of ordinances from other cities were provided commissioners.
The committee’s plan would ban street and right-of-way parking in residential-zoned neighborhoods, except by residential permit. The permits would be distributed by the police department for $10 each. Beach-end parking, however, would be allowed.
Street parking would only be allowed for those residents who pay the $10 fee.
Commissioners, clearly in favor of the plan, immediately started discussing the details — the amount of permits issued, exemptions and parking “zones.”
“It’s not fair to the people who live here to put up with all the people that come over. The beach belongs to everyone, but our neighborhoods belong to the residents and there’s got to be some compromise,” said Commissioner Marvin Grossman.
City planner Bill Brisson told commissioners the situation in Holmes Beach is different than in many communities because resort housing is intermingled with residential neighborhoods. Brisson also spoke in favor of the plan, but cautioned commissioners to consider the needs for resort housing.
Sean Murphy, a Holmes Beach resident and owner of the Beach Bistro and Eat Here restaurants in Holmes Beach, offered the only dissenting voice.
“We’re asking the wrong questions. We’re asking how and not why,” Murphy said. “This has been a problem here for a long time. We’re losing our sense of hospitality and graciousness. We’ve increased congestion. We’ve reduced where people can park and now they’re driving around.”
Murphy’s comments were met with audible complaints from the people in the gallery. Murphy continued to say the majority of visitors come from the mainland and alternative solutions could be sought and contributed to by Manatee County.
“I understand what Sean is saying. Manatee County needs to chip in, too, but our residents have taken so much and if we’re going to save them from leaving we’re going to have to understand what they’re going through,” said Titsworth.
Commissioner Carol Soustek, who served as chair on the traffic committee before being appointed commissioner, said the committee has found additional parking areas for public parking.
The committee drafted an agreement between Hancock Bank and the city for use of its parking lot outside of business hours. Soustek said more business lots could be utilized in the same way.
Commissioners directed city attorney Patricia Petruff to begin working on an ordinance and placed discussion on the agenda for the second work session in January.
Petruff said she had been a “big advocate” for permitted parking for the past 10 years, but understands the move would limit parking in the city for visitors.
“I don’t know what the answer is, but I can tell you I won’t be coming to the beach because I won’t go to the public beach or Coquina. And Sean is absolutely right. There are a lot of families that own beachhouses out here, but there are a lot that never could. It’s sad, but it’s sort of a reality,” Petruff said.
Commissioners will discuss the parking ban at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
I am a part time resident of Bradenton and uses the Anna Maria Island beach’s near everyday that I am here and I can only speak of what I see….I make an extra effort to ensure that I am parked legally and respectfully of homeowner’s and their property. Unfortunately, I also see a total lack of enforcement of cars parked illegally 30ft of a Stop Sign or near a fire Hydrant, the wrong way on a Street or over a drive way or on a lawn. The answer is enforcement, enforcement, enforcement!
I hate to see this parking issue but it’s a wake up call for our island. Do you want visitors and their money or not? With all the money spent on advertising the island we’re getting what it asked for.
As a home owner and resident for 6 month of the year parking and attitude of the parkers has gotten out of hand. I also feel that enforcement of what rules we have now are not uniform and the police don’t have time to work traffic. So what what’s the answer for Anna Maria whose problems are bigger that Holmes Beach?
For me I’d like to see something more than talk about parking and try some solutions but be willing to change if they are not working. In other words, enough talk let’s act!