Sunset Beach residents raise driveway, safety and season-length concerns at paid-parking forum

The Town of Sunset Beach held a special call on Dec. 10 to hear public comment on its paid-parking plan, and dozens of residents spoke during an open forum that produced sharply different views on safety, fairness and the length of the paid season.

At the outset the mayor opened a public forum limited to three-minute comments. Ray Fitzgerald of 204 West Main Street said his driveway was reduced by about 11 feet under the new layout and called the change "unfair," saying the loss of on-site parking could prevent him from renting his two-story house as intended. "I got robbed," Fitzgerald said, adding he believes the changes favored some properties over others.

Several residents urged the council to revisit design decisions and, in some cases, the policy itself. Ron McFarland (1405 West Main Street) asked the town to hire a transportation planner — "not an engineer" — to review circulation and sight-line issues, saying a 0.21-acre parcel was treated as a parking lot rather than a road and that perpendicular spaces require more maneuvers than the previous parallel layout. Charlie Dern, who recalled a citizens parking committee and input from two DOT engineers and the town firm Moffatt & Nichol, urged patience and testing of the current plan before commissioning a new, costly professional study.

Residents also debated program rules and the season. Pete Larkin (453 Lakeshore Drive) and John Hopgood argued against giving two free parking passes per tax ID, warning residents could register multiple vehicles and block spaces; Larkin recommended limiting free passes to one per tax ID. Several speakers identified the $25 daily or seasonal parking charge as the current fee; John Hopgood and others suggested shortening the paid-parking season (Hopgood called October 31 a fair cutoff) so shoulder-season visitors could access the beach without fees. Anne Thurston noted parts of November sometimes see nearly empty lots and asked the council to consider charging only during higher-demand windows.

Business owners raised practical concerns. Julie Gentry, who owns Out Market, asked the council to address employee parking and safety for staff who must walk from distant lots at night, citing past incidents of vehicles damaging storefronts. Tracy Hopgood requested reconsideration of one-hour business spaces to better serve merchants.

Views were mixed: Mila Millman said organized parking had improved resident access and reduced crowds, while Joe Seben called the $25 fee reasonable and welcomed designated spots. Several commenters asked the town to balance resident priorities, public access and business needs.

The council did not take a final vote on policy changes at the forum. A council member announced a new portal on the town website for ongoing input on parking, dredging and economic development and said monthly roll-ups of feedback would be provided to council. The forum closed without immediate policy changes; the council signaled it would continue public engagement and review the plan and data before taking further action.