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St. Augustine businesses press commission to ease ‘Nights of Lights’ parking limits as city weighs short extension
Summary
Local merchants and hospitality workers told the City Commission that temporary residential parking rules and a 1 p.m. start time are hurting Uptown sales, while some residents urged keeping the shortened schedule. Commissioners asked staff to test commercial-zone adjustments and approved limited 5 p.m. resident-only pilot changes.
A wave of Uptown merchants and employees told St. Augustine’s City Commission that this year’s temporary residential-parking rules for the Knights of Lights season are cutting into business and costing jobs, and several asked the commission to change start times or extend the holiday light season.
During a lengthy public-comment period, small-business owners and employees described sharp drops in November sales and urged a later start for parking restrictions — “somewhere around 5 p.m.,” many said — so customers can access stores in the afternoon. “My sales were down about 20% in November compared to last year,” said Liz Snyder, an Uptown storefront owner. “If we could start it at 5 p.m., that would be immensely helpful.”
The city manager presented midseason data showing the downtown parking garage was busier than last year and shuttle ridership up markedly; staff also reported that pilot changes making the first block of Rode Avenue and the first block of Cincinnati resident-only after 5 p.m. had been generally well received. “That compromise has been generally well received by the residents and businesses,” the city manager said in the update.
Commissioners debated several options. Several members supported expanding the 5 p.m. pilot to other commercially zoned blocks near San Marco Avenue so commercial parking remains available where zoning already allows it. Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder and others asked staff to test making commercially zoned street segments available to customers and employees while reserving residential zones for residents after 5 p.m.
The question of extending Knights of Lights into January drew mixed comments from speakers and commissioners. Advocates said a two-week extension would stabilize January hours for hospitality workers; staff warned that many operational contracts (shuttles, portable restrooms, barricades, law enforcement overtime) expire Jan. 11 and that extensions would likely require new contracts and additional funding. “If we did extend the Knights of Lights for two more weeks, it’s possible we would not be able to provide the same level of service,” the city manager said.
The commission gave staff direction to pursue limited, near-term adjustments — including testing commercial-zone parking changes similar to the Rode/Cincinnati pilot and expanding access for small-business employee passes at satellite lots — and asked for a post-season review that details daily operational costs and lessons learned. The commission did not vote tonight to extend the season.
Next steps: staff will report back on the feasibility of the commercial-zone adjustments, availability of contract services for any extension, and a post-season evaluation of costs and outcomes.
