Longbeach Village discusses parking ordinance

Residents of the Longbeach Village aren’t satisfied with proposed parking changes in their neighborhood and plan to attend the Oct. 6 Longboat Key Town Commission meeting to voice their concerns.

Citizens made suggestions to the commission in April, focusing on three main areas of concern: creating a parking plan to meet the needs of the Village residents, code enforcement issues concerning Jewfish Key rentals and code enforcement monitoring of seating at the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub.

The association, made up of residents of the historic Longbeach Village on north end of Longboat Key, meets on the first Wednesday of every month. At the group’s Oct.1 meeting, formulated a plan for Monday, when the commission will discuss the proposed ordinance on first reading and second reading.

If commissioners approve the ordinance on first and second reading, it could take effect in November.

The proposed ordinance would add the following restrictions to parking in the neighborhood:
+ No parking for the entire north side of Broadway Street from Palm Drive to Bayside Drive;
+ No parking from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the entire south side of Broadway from Palm Drive to Bayside Drive;
+ No parking on the east side of the street on Lois Avenue between Broadway and Russell Street;
+ No parking on the eastside of street on Poinsetta Drive between Broadway and Russell Street.

Michel Drake, the association’s president, says the ordinance is a good short-term solution for fixing some of the problems through season, but he says it’s the association’s goal at the Oct. 6 meeting to let commissioners know the ordinance doesn’t cover everything.

Commissioners Pat Zunz and Phil Younger attended the Village meeting.

Residents agreed that parking on Linley Street, near Mar Vista, is an issue that remains unaddressed in the ordinance. The proposed ordinance currently allows parking at anytime on Linley Street.

Mike Lightfoot, who lives on Linley, said that the street is too narrow for parking on either side of the street at any time and that cars parked on the side of the street are at risk of being sideswiped by passing cars.

Drake agreed that the issue needs further discussion before the commission, however, he believes the proposed ordinance is a good start and expressed concern that proposed changes could face further delay.

Residents agreed with Drake when he said there is merit to not allowing parking at all throughout the Village, noting that on the other side of Gulf of Mexico Drive near the beach access points, there is no parking in residential areas at any time. However, parking is allowed in the Longbeach Village in certain places at designated hours.

“It would be nice for parking ordinances to be consistent throughout the island, but if you have streets restricted for parking and others not, I think its going to lead to an enforcement nightmare,” Drake said. “My fear is that the ordinance will push parking out into the neighborhood, because with the ordinance the way it is all the parking will be pushed on to Linley Street.”

Drake, who has lived in the Village since the early ’80s, said that in 1995, the town enforced “no parking” restrictions at all times throughout the neighborhood, which resulted in ‘no parking’ signs being placed in yards, which he described as sign pollution.

“This ordinance is still helping the neighborhood, even though it’s not perfect,” said Village resident Benny Parrish. “ We need to tell the commission we’re in favor, but we need to continue to monitor the issue with possible changes on the way.”

Contact Caleb Motsinger at [email protected].