Jacksonville Beach council approves first reading of 4-hour parking limit on A1A after carve‑out for west side commercial stretch

The Jacksonville Beach City Council voted 6‑0 on first reading to restrict parking on State Road A1A to four hours in most residential stretches, approving ordinance 2025‑8222 as amended and scheduling a second reading for May 5.

The ordinance, as amended, sets different northern boundaries on the east and west sides of A1A: the east side will be limited from 20th Avenue South to the Duval/Saint Johns County line; the west side will be limited from 30 Fourth Avenue South to the county line. Council members and staff said the change was intended to prevent long‑term semi‑truck parking in front of residences while allowing limited parking near the commercial cluster at the south end of the corridor.

The issue drew multiple public comments from nearby residents who said employees of commercial businesses and overnight truck parking on A1A and nearby side streets have blocked driveways, narrowed lanes and created safety and quality‑of‑life concerns. Resident Janelle Wilson described employees parking “all up and down the streets in the residential areas” and said vehicles often block traffic during daytime business hours. Several other residents — including Michael Deloach, Terry Deloach, Brandon Angel, Jeff Harrington and Jeff Keener — urged the council to act and suggested alternatives such as resident permits or limited‑time parking on local streets.

Council members and staff emphasized limits on the city’s authority because A1A is a state highway under the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). City staff said FDOT told them the most viable enforcement tool the state would allow was a time limit on parking; FDOT would not permit restrictions that discriminated by vehicle type or an overnight ban independent of a time restriction. City staff also said other parking controls on local streets remain under city jurisdiction.

Council member Wagner summarized the debate as four interconnected problems: “the semis parking on Third, the resident truck drivers who live here, residential spillover parking, and beach parking,” and cautioned the council that solving one could shift pressure to another. City attorney David Stefanopoulos said the city’s land‑use code imposes parking requirements for businesses, and that local streets not under state control give the council more regulatory flexibility.

Council member Golding moved an amendment to limit the scope on the west side so the commercial stretch at the south end would retain parking; the amendment passed on roll call 6‑0 and the amended ordinance passed on first reading later the same evening 6‑0. Council members directed staff to continue discussions with FDOT and to notify affected businesses on the west side of A1A so owners might plan for potential parking changes on adjacent city streets.

The council and speakers repeatedly urged further study of resident‑only permits, short‑term restrictions on local streets and outreach to businesses that currently prohibit employee parking on site. Staff said those options would be considered in follow‑up briefings and workshops before a final ordinance could be implemented.