STONE HARBOR – With Memorial Day approaching, thoughts turn to parking. As the island communities see their population increase, the problem confronting officials annually is what to do with all the cars.
As Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour and Council member Charles Krafczek briefed their colleagues on a preseason meeting of the Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce, the discussion quickly moved to the growing problem of parking.
For the business district, the problem is not limited to the summer season. Davies-Dunhour said that merchants want more movement of cars along the street and may even support keeping the meters in the business district operational throughout the shoulder season as well. The problem is that business owners and employees use parking spaces all day after meters are removed, leaving potential customers to seek spaces further from the businesses.
Confronting a similar problem, the City of Cape May recently designated select streets near the Washington Street Mall for extended parking meter operation, moving the beginning date from May to April, and extending the end dates all the way to year end, after the Christmas-shopping period.
Council’s discussion of the parking issue ranged over a number of potential actions, including increased jitney service, a valet parking concession for a private company, and off-island parking on available property along Stone Harbor Boulevard, either as part of a valet service or with transportation provided into town.
Some discussed visions of smartphone apps that would allow for customized pick-up and delivery of cars or drivers in order to accommodate the different timeframes of visitors who may only be shopping or who may extend their visit with a movie or dinner.
One thing was clear in the discussions; the borough sees potential solutions to the problem as something that private enterprise would address. A valet concession would be run by a winning bidder, increased jitney service, if used, would be organized by a private service.
The role of the borough would be to facilitate and allow specific activities after vetting them and perhaps adopting needed regulations. Davies-Dunhour did express a desire to find a revenue stream for the borough “that is not tax dollars” in any commercial endeavor seeking to provide a parking or transportation service to visitors.
In the same week that Cape May City Council reformulated its Parking Advisory Committee, Stone Harbor Council discussed forming a parking committee, with input from the business community, in order to explore possible actions to alleviate the problem.
Expanding tourism, economic development, and longer shoulder seasons all bring the threat of more cars and the need for something to do with them.
While a personal vehicle is the principal means by which people arrive at the shore, finding ways to minimize a visitor’s need for their own vehicle to enjoy dinner, shopping, or a day on the beach is a challenge Stone Harbor and other resort communities in the county must address.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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