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Council asks staff to rethink proposed ADA parking on West Marion after safety and location concerns
Summary
Council members questioned a staff recommendation to add Americans with Disabilities Act‑compliant parking on West Marion Avenue and suggested exploring alternate locations such as Sullivan or Taylor streets and potential property acquisition to create angled parking and safer access.
Punta Gorda council members said a staff proposal to add ADA‑compliant parking on West Marion Avenue needs more study and suggested alternate locations and design options to improve safety and access.
Why it matters: ADA parking placement affects accessibility for people with disabilities, pedestrian safety, and downtown curbside circulation. Council members voiced concerns that Marion Avenue’s geometry makes safe access difficult.
Several council members recommended staff evaluate other nearby blocks such as Sullivan Street or a vacant parcel on Taylor Avenue that could be purchased to create angled parking and multiple accessible spaces. A council member suggested making Sullivan a one‑way street to generate more parking. Staff agreed the item should be folded into a larger transition and ADA study and said they would return with a broader analysis.
Some council members asked that ADA funds be considered for property acquisition if it produces safer, consolidated accessible parking rather than on‑street spaces that could introduce hazards at Marion.
The council agreed to pull the specific Marion Avenue action from the immediate agenda and directed staff to return with options, including site acquisition costs, and how the proposal fits into the citywide ADA transition plan.
Ending: Staff will come back with alternative site analyses, estimated acquisition and construction costs, and how any new spaces would integrate with the ADA transition plan.
