Delray Beach planning to raise the rates for beach parking - Orlando Sentinel

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Beach lovers heading for the surf and sand in Delray Beach will soon be paying more for parking privileges.

Parking meter fees will increase from $1.25 to $1.50 per hour, while annual beach parking permits will now cost $90 plus tax, up from last year's $80. The permit allows residents to park at the Sandoway Park, Anchor Park, Ingraham Park, Orange Grove and Atlantic Dunes north and south parking lots.

The City Commission is expected to approve the parking fee increase at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

"The City Commission asked us to review all of our fees and in looking at what other cities were doing we felt the increase was appropriate," said City Manager David Harden.

The measure is expected to generate about $200,000 a year in revenues, Harden said.

"I guess a quarter per hour is not a big deal," said Sandy Bloomberg, who lives in Boca Raton but prefers to frequent the south end of Delray Beach's municipal beach. "It's not going to break the bank."

The City Commission voted on Sept. 20 on first reading to approve the change. The change affects meters on Atlantic Avenue east of the Intracoastal Waterway, along A1A and in beach parking lots.

Restaurant owner Fran Marincola said it will, however, affect some businesses in the area where metered parking along A1A is enforced from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

"The problem is, it does hurt the merchants open at night," said Marincola, who owns Luna Rosa Restaurant and is on the Downtown Development Authority and Parking Advisory boards. "It would be nice if they stopped at 6 p.m., but I'm not going to push it because it's a perceived self-interest to me."

Marincola said that's especially true of the meters on Atlantic Avenue, which were put in to benefit restaurants and beach shops and avoid having beachgoers park for free all day.

City officials are also expected to approve a new annual permit category for seniors. The Senior Beach permit will allow residents 62 and older to park in parallel spots along A1A south of Miramar Street and north of Atlantic Avenue without paying meter fees.

At $95 per year, the fee allows senior citizens to avoid having to haul their beach gear from parking lots west of A1A onto the beach.

The fee increase is expected to take effect immediately after it is approved, but Harden said it will be some time before all meters are converted to the new rate.

The city last increased parking meter fees two years ago, when the rate went from $1 to $1.25 per hour. In 2008, the city also raised the annual permit fee from $60 to $80.

"The city has to make a buck somehow," Bloomberg said. "I guess this is their way."

meherrera@tribune.com or 561-243-6544

03 Oct, 2011

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