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Council directs return to parallel parking at 40th Street and sets 2026 island parking season
Summary
After residents and public safety officials raised safety and property‑damage concerns, the Sunset Beach Town Council directed staff to restore parallel parking at West Main/40th Street and voted to set the island paid‑parking season for April 1–Oct. 31, 2026, with the same fees and up to two free season passes per parcel owner.
The Sunset Beach Town Council on Jan. 12 voted to direct staff to return the West Main/40th Street parking configuration from perpendicular back to parallel, saying the present layout creates safety risks for pedestrians and driveway damage for homeowners.
"I don't like the 48th Street configuration at all," said the Police Chief (who also served as interim town administrator during parts of the meeting), describing motorists reversing in tight spaces, children crossing near backing vehicles and driveway damage caused by the perpendicular layout. Council members and residents said cars blocking driveways and congested nights during sunset hours raised safety and trespass concerns.
Council member (speaker 8) said the decision responds to a stream of resident complaints and multiple police reports documenting damage to private property. "I think we've kinda created a little bit of a problem there…it's a hardship on the neighbors," the council member said, urging restoration to the prior layout.
The council asked public works, police and the fire chief to prepare a design that restores parallel parking, includes appropriate handicap spaces and identifies a drop‑off area; staff said they would return with a plan for review before any construction.
Separately, the council heard a presentation from AutoConnect on the first year of paid parking. The vendor reported 2025 parking revenue of $466,000, more than 43,000 paid parkings, and an 86.3% same‑day citation payment rate. After discussion about low‑speed vehicle (LSV) spaces and signage clarity, Council member (speaker 4) moved to set the island beach parking season for 2026 as April 1–Oct. 31, with the same fees, penalties and up to two free season passes per parcel owner; the motion passed.
The council also accepted staff's recommendation to advertise an RFP for a professional traffic, circulation and safety study of island parking and pedestrian access, with a selection timeline slated for February. The RFP will ask firms to analyze circulation, signage, pedestrian crosswalks and accessibility and to present findings for council and public input.
The council said the combination of an interim return to parallel parking and a formal safety study should address immediate safety issues while producing data to guide longer‑term parking and circulation policy.
