SEBASTIAN – The Sebastian City Council will once again consider the city’s options for improving parking within the city core at the council meeting Wednesday evening.
City Manager Al Minner is seeking the council’s direction on proceeding with three proposed projects, including developing the boat trailer parking near Riverview Park, paving certain streets and addressing rules for “back out” parking on Indian River Drive.
The city commissioned a parking study of its downtown and waterfront districts late last year.
Outlier Planning, the firm hired to perform the study, found that the city has a few problem areas for parking, particularly around Capt. Hiram’s and Riverview Park during special events.
Overall, however, the study shows that the available public parking in the district is under utilized, but could be improved upon.
Already, the city working to address better defined on-street parking along US 1 and installing way-finding signs to assist visitors and residents alike find where they want to go.
The study was performed before the Mulligan’s restaurant opened and since then, residents continue to complain about the lack of access to waterfront parking on Indian River Drive and lack of parking at the Yacht Club due to the restaurant’s patrons taking those spots.
Residents have also told the Sebastian City Council that delivery trucks that service the busy restaurant routinely use the Yacht Club’s parking lot while making deliveries.
Minner has told the council that he would be in contact with Mulligan’s owner to address the situation.
As for the boat trailer parking between the Hess gas station and Indian River Drive, Outlier has recommended it be re-designed to accommodate 92 boat trailers and allocate the remaining property to other vehicular parking along the strip closest to the river.
Other recommended parking solutions include revamping certain city streets to allow angled or parallel parking, and mark off special areas for motorcycle and scooter parking.
If the Sebastian City Council were to direct staff to move forward, no funds would be spent, according to Minner.
Instead, staff would work to generate conceptual plans that would be brought back to the council for approval “prior to any major expenditure,” he wrote in his material to the council.
The Sebastian City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1225 Main Street.