Virginia Beach staff propose $50 annual resident parking voucher and progressive oceanfront pricing

City staff on Monday proposed a $50 annual digital resident parking voucher and a new progressive pricing structure for the oceanfront, saying the plan would make short visits cheaper while encouraging long-term parkers to use garages.

Mister Hanson, a city staff member leading the presentation, told the Virginia Beach City Council staff were responding to a council request to investigate free or discounted oceanfront parking for residents. Hanson said the voucher would be limited to an oceanfront service zone roughly between Pacific and Atlantic avenues (including the 25th Street garage) and would be renewed annually with proof of residency. "That voucher would have credits usable at the locations and on-street spaces identified as the oceanfront service zones," Hanson said.

The plan pairs the voucher with a progressive on-street hourly schedule intended to increase turnover: $1 for the first hour, $2 for the second, $3 for the third hour, $6 an hour for hours four and five, $7 for hours six and seven, and $8 for hour eight and above. Garages and surface lots…