Here’s the latest on the changes being made to North Myrtle Beach’s paid parking program
Expanded paid parking in North Myrtle Beach and the inclusion of more Horry County residents in the program got closer to fruition Friday.
Following the city’s inaugural paid parking program, officials are looking to change the program by adding paid parking to public some right-of-ways side streets and altering the permit system to include both part-time city residents and Horry County residents, at a cost. The proposed changes received unanimous first reading approval by North Myrtle Beach City Council.
While the city saw over 60,325 vehicles pay to park last summer, officials found there was an imbalance of demand for beach-front lots as motorists without parking decals parked along public right-of-ways side streets where parking was ultimately free.
In an attempt to motivate visitors to park in the city’s recently-enhanced lots, side streets will carry a $2 per hour fee that can be paid via mobile app, similar to public lots. City Manager Mike Mahaney said staff is currently working on deciding which side streets adjacent to Ocean Boulevard will be included in the program.
Other changes include allowing part-time city residents to apply for one free parking permit per household with the opportunity to purchase an additional permit for $200. While it is not required for the individual’s vehicle or golf cart to be registered to their city address, proof of residential property ownership will be required.
Full-time residents, who already get two free permits per household, could also purchase one additional permit for $200.
Additionally, the city will allot a maximum of 200 annual parking permits for Horry County residents to purchase for $200. However, the permits will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
City officials last year implemented a series of programs in an attempt to make parking more effective and safer along Ocean Boulevard during the busy tourism season.
Plans included spending nearly $500,000 to modify 12 beach access lots between 6th Avenue North and 18th Avenue North to create 200 additional spaces and a paid-parking program that carried a $2 per hour fee in all public parking lots on both sides of Ocean Boulevard. A mobile pay app and kiosks were also introduced.
Additionally, the city enforced a residential permit system that allowed full-time city residents to park for free in all paid-parking lots but limited the number of vehicles and golf carts used at a time to one per household. Two free decals per household were issued, but those living outside city limits and vacation homeowners were restricted from accessing them.
Including parking lot extensions, signage, kiosks and other materials, the city spent about $750,000 to initiate the program, which generated about $500,000 in the almost five-months span, officials said.
While the paid parking season begins on March 1, the proposed amendments need to receive second reading approval by council.
