New Smyrna Beach hearing on parking study: consultant urges mobility director, metering and data-driven steps

The New Smyrna Beach City Commission heard a consultantpresentation Sept. 24 that recommends hiring a mobility or parking director, introducing metering on key corridors and using technology and demand-management to reduce cruising and better serve residents and visitors.

Matthew West, director of planning with LTG Incorporated, told the commission the study combined prior reports, site visits to Canal Street and Flagler Avenue and an Aug. 1 public forum that drew more than 120 attendees. "The most important thing to establish is the purpose and need of this study," West said, summarizing four core problems: perceived lack of convenient parking at peak times, constraints that can limit business growth, spillover into nearby neighborhoods and congestion from drivers searching for spaces.

The consultant emphasized four immediate priorities: "The 1st 1 being hire [a] mobility director," West said; begin metering on on- and off-street public parking to generate management data; pursue demand-management and wayfinding (including sharing availability with navigation apps); and continue coordination with Volusia County as the county rolls out regional changes. West said the study's action plan contains roughly 23 items and recommended convening an advisory board to oversee parking and mobility policy, while noting that a board would require staffing for agendas and minutes.

West presented limited field data to illustrate existing patterns: a four-day, 12-hours-per-day video count on an eight-space stretch of Canal Street showed the spaces were filled about half the time during the sampled periods, and cameras recorded 407 vehicles during that sample window. He also said the report proposes changing some Flagler and Canal spaces to two-hour limits where four-hour limits currently apply and suggested clarifying a 30-minute curb space at the post office.

Public comments largely welcomed a data-driven approach. "If we follow the recommendation of this report, we will be supporting our residents and our visitors with a world class destination parking experience," said Bob Williams, a New Smyrna Beach resident who described a recent problem registering for off-beach resident parking and praised city staff assistance. Several residents urged caution on secondary issues: Cindy Harris asked officials to consider wetlands and stormwater impacts before making parking changes, asking, "is what importance does our wetlands play on stormwater movement?" Dr. Harmon urged the commission to set "date certain" follow-up steps so the study does not "go on the shelf."

Commissioners pressed for practical detail on short-term versus long-term measures, including how virtual metering (space numbers plus license-plate apps) would work for parallel street parking, and whether employee parking could be shifted off-street to free retail and restaurant spaces. Commissioners repeatedly returned to the need for data to move the debate beyond perception.

In response, the city manager said staff would begin work promptly to move recommendations "from the book to reality," involving senior staff in implementing short-term items while organizational decisions such as where a mobility director would sit in the city structure are resolved. No formal motion or vote was taken at the meeting; the item was presented for direction and public input.

Next steps identified at the meeting included continued coordination with Volusia County on its regional parking changes, follow-up public outreach, and staff work on immediate, low-cost items while the city evaluates the staffing and organizational implications of a mobility director and any advisory board.

The special meeting adjourned with no formal vote on the study; the city manager said staff would begin implementation work this week.