Sunset Beach relies on local parking committee and DOT review, council declines paid professional study for now

Council members described a four-part definition of a "professional parking study" (inventory, utilization analysis, future needs assessment, and management recommendations) and reported the town's volunteer parking committee had completed an inventory and analysis the council found sufficient.

A council member said the committee settled on about 580 available parking places island-wide and that an NC DOT meeting produced a concept-level acceptance for designated parking on Main Street's western end. Staff and the council said designated spaces and signage were intended to improve safety and clarify where residents and visitors may park.

Based on the committee's work and DOT's conceptual approval, the council and staff concluded there was no need to add a contracted professional parking study to the FY2025'026 budget. Staff will continue coordination with NC DOT; western Main Street plans have been turned over to DOT and, if DOT returns a concept approval, the town intends to go to bid and then work with property owners on encroachments before implementing the first phase.

Public-safety concerns arose in discussion: one council member and a resident asked for further information about pedestrian/bicycle safety and narrow-road emergency access on streets such as Northshore East. The parking lead offered to discuss details with concerned residents after the meeting.

What happens next: Staff will continue to work with NC DOT and survey/engineering partners, finalize designated-space plans for western Main Street, and bring implementation steps back to council for authorization to bid and construct.