SEBASTIAN — At the Wednesday Sebastian City Council meeting, over strenuous and detailed objections from Councilman Richard Gillmor, Council voted 4-1 to proceed with the installation of nine angle parking spaces along north Indian River Drive within the city’s right-of-way adjacent to Oyster Point and across the street from Rella’s Restaurant, with the $24,700 cost of the project paid for with Parking In Lieu funds.
“How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways,” said Gillmor, and proceeded to do so.
City Manager Joe Griffin said that in 2012 Council approved an ordinance authorizing on-street parking as identified in a study concerning additional parking within the riverfront area of the community redevelopment area.
Based on this study, the City implemented the capital improvement projects for on-street angle parking for the Presidential Streets and additional angle parking on north Indian River Drive as the initial Phase I, and 15 angled spaces were installed in front of Capt. Hiram’s. At that time, several other locations were identified along north Indian River Drive for future on-street parking. Phase II is now the nine new angle spaces
Gillmor’s opposition included seven points of contention.
He argued that the proposal is presented as Phase II, when “the original angle parking was never presented as Phase I. Had that been the case, and had it been revealed that this was just one phase of turning Indian River Drive into a parking lot, I don’t believe the City Council would have bitten.” He stated that then-Mayor Jim Hill was adamant that a sidewalk be constructed in front of the parking spaces and that then-City Manager Al Minner “assured us that the sidewalk was in the plan.”
The sidewalk, which Gillmor said was a code requirement, “never got done.” He added that he and then-Council member Bob McPartlan had voted against the plan at the time, but lost 3-2.
He also argued the City’s $30,000 parking study concluded that there was sufficient public parking on US 1, and mentioned angled parking on the Presidential side streets but, “it never recommended angled parking in the right-of-way on Indian River Drive.”
He said that the project would add another Pedestrian Accident Zone “with yet another crosswalk.”
He noted the number of accidents in Capt. Hiram’s parking lots – 42 reported in the last two years – “and yet the City wants to allow substandard, 9-foot parking spaces in this development’s lots” and “it looks like we’re putting in private parking for Rella’s just like it appeared we were putting in private parking for Capt. Hiram’s – and perception is reality.”
There is, he continued, no provision for a sidewalk on the west side to funnel pedestrians to the cross walk. Gillmor said each of the returning snowbirds with whom he had spoken, was “outraged” when they saw the angled parking at Capt. Hiram’s and felt it was “dumb” to put parking there.
“If that was dumb, this was dumber,” Gillmor said.
Gillmor also expressed concern for storm water issues, saying that removing the swale in front of Oyster Point would eliminate storm water treatment in the grassy swale, allowing a rain event to wash all the oil and fluids from the parking lot to flow directly into a ditch which pours directly into the lagoon.
“I don’t see a call for a baffle box to prevent this anywhere in the proposal,” Gillmor said.
His fellow Council members did not appear to share the same concerns.
“I do support this,” Hill said, explaining that he believes it is not only for a couple of businesses but will support the whole business community.
“I’m for it,” McPartlan also said, adding, “A sidewalk makes no sense.”
To Gillmor’s stormwater concerns, City Engineer Frank Watanabe noted that the plan adds an extra two feet to address the drainage issue.
Griffin told Council there is currently $53,000 in the Parking In Lieu fund, and recommended up to $25,000 be designated for the project.
