The Board of Lee County Commissioners on Aug. 5 adopted a revised Boca Grande parking ordinance aimed at reducing unsafe and disorderly parking on the island and preserving beach access while protecting local businesses. The board voted unanimously to approve the ordinance as amended and directed staff to implement the changes and return with administrative language and maps.

The ordinance sets new rules for parallel and angled parking, time-limited public spaces in the downtown area and updated enforcement tools. Commissioners said the measure is intended to reduce pedestrian and traffic hazards and protect environmentally sensitive areas that have been damaged by unregulated parking.

The measure drew lengthy public comment from residents, merchants, fishing guides and visitors. Speakers for and against the plan emphasized competing priorities: residents and conservation groups asked for stronger protections to preserve the island’s character and safety; merchants and some year-round residents warned that aggressive restrictions could harm downtown businesses and workers who depend on daytime customers.

County attorney Michael Jacob told the board the advertised ordinance could be amended during the hearing without re-advertising. “Nothing that was just discussed would be of a substantial nature to cause us to have to re-advertise,” Jacob said during the hearing.

As passed, the board accepted several board-level amendments during the hearing. Key changes approved by the board were:
- Convert the downtown short-term limit to three-hour parking (changed from a two-hour standard proposed earlier) to increase turnover but give visitors more time to patronize businesses;
- Add a carve-out for fishing and charter operations by designating the east side of Bayou Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets (the Pink Docks area) as general parking to preserve pickup/drop-off and long-duration charter parking;
- Add volunteers for registered nonprofit organizations (for example, lighthouse and museum stewards) into the definition of “island employee” so they may qualify for parking allowances; and
- Increase the proposed fine for blocking residential driveways to $500 and authorize towing for vehicles that obstruct hydrants or driveways.

The board also directed staff to draft implementing administrative language, map updates and enforcement protocols and to return to the board for formal ratification of the implementing code and signage. Commissioners additionally directed staff to stand up a Boca Grande parking advisory panel (see below) to continue stakeholder work on implementation and ongoing tweaks.

Public commenters who supported the ordinance said it was the product of a long community process and would preserve the island’s limited infrastructure and habitat. Opponents said the rules would reduce access for working families and tourists and could shift large enforcement costs onto visitors or local businesses. Several speakers warned that closing or restricting public street parking could affect the county’s formulas for federal and state beach renourishment funding and urged the county to consider alternatives, such as expanded parking at the south end or pay-to-park systems.

The board approved the ordinance with the amendments and unanimously directed staff to finalize maps, produce signage plans and return with administrative code language that reflects the changes, and to form a public advisory panel to continue work on island parking issues.

Ending: Staff said they will publish the updated map, return with final administrative language and support the new advisory panel. The ordinance and the panel motion were carried unanimously.