InPaola Tristan Arruda|February 2, 2021 at 8:02 pm EST – Updated February 2 at 11:14 pm
ILHA DE PALMAS, SC (WCSC) – Municipal leaders of Ilha de Palmas say they will work with the state’s transportation department to create more public parking for non-residents.
The decision came after SCDOT Transport Secretary Christy Hall sent the mayor and council members a letter about restrictions on public parking.
In that letter, Hall said he plans to revoke the city’s beach parking plan, which restricts access to parking for many people who do not live on the island.
“I am of the opinion that the 2015 plan wrongly designated a significant number of state highway rights of way as ‘parking for residents only’, potentially denying non-residents their constitutional guarantee of equality and privilege,” Hall said in the letter.
The city council met on Tuesday for an executive session to discuss the matter with the legal team, as well as to get advice on a state law that restricts cities from changing parking rules on state highways without the approval of the state transportation department.
If the plan is revoked, it could allow non-residents to park in more areas of the island.
Michael Barnett, an advocate of free parking and unrestricted access to the beach, said the decision is a big step in the right direction.
“The constitution of the state of South Carolina protects the beach, protects the use of the beach by all citizens of this state,” said Barnett. “It is a unique protection that many states do not have and we have to protect it”.
He is one of many people who have resorted to beach islands to ease parking restrictions.
The Charleston Beach Foundation, a group that filed a lawsuit against the city of Isle of Palms for temporary parking restrictions, issued a statement saying they are “excited and grateful for SCDOT’s efforts to take corrective action regarding non-resident parking. on Palms Island. “
During Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Jimmy Carroll said the city spent approximately $ 1.6 million to manage beach parking under its beach plan.
SCDOT’s request, as stated in the letter, would also include the restoration of angled parking along the side of the Palm Boulevard lot between 22nd and 40th Avenue. There may also be an opportunity to restore public parking along the first block of avenues that cross Palm Boulevard.
Hall said he is willing to work with the city and come to terms with some aspects of the plan.
“It is my sincere desire to work on a resolution to the public parking problems on Palms Island in order to find the right balance for the community and the Charleston region,” said Hall. “I look forward to continuing the dialogue with the city and I hope that a compromise can be reached that meets the goal.”
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