Parking Plan FAQ's

Welcome to the section of the Town website that will address the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the implementation of the Beach Parking Plan and Paid Parking.  We encourage you to visit this link periodically for updates.  If you have questions to submit regarding either paid parking or the Island Parking Plan, please email your questions to publiccomments@sunsetbeachnc.gov.

 

In a previous question, you discussed the parking plan for Main Street. I understand the State of North Carolina owns Main Street. Why doesn’t the Town own Main Street?

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) owns Main Street and Sunset Boulevard (the street that comes over to the Island). Ever since the Island was initially developed, this has been the case.

 The Town takes responsibility for maintenance of these roads, but NCDOT is responsible for the upkeep of the roads. On a number of occasions, NCDOT has asked if the Town would like to take ownership of these two roads. On all such inquires, the Town has said “no”. If a major storm wiped out all or parts of Main Street or Sunset Boulevard, the State is responsible for repairs. The cost of major repairs to these state-owned streets in the case of a major storm would be more than the Town could afford. Thus, it is to our advantage that the State continue to own Main Street and Sunset Boulevard.

 However, due to the state’s ownership, the Town must work with NCDOT regarding any changes to past practice on Main Street and Sunset Boulevard. As owners of Main Street, NCDOT has the final say regarding the Town’s Parking Plan for their street. The Town has worked with NCDOT to devise a mutually agreed upon plan for designating parking on Main Street. Please refer to an earlier question which contains more detailed information on the plans for Main Street.

 

 

The Parking Plan for the Island of Sunset Beach obviously has a cost attached to the project. How is the Town going to pay for the cost of the Parking Plan? Will our taxes pay for the cost? Will this expense cause an increase in Taxes for property owners?

Once Town Council approved paid parking for the 2025 Beach Season, it was announced that all expenses incurred in order to carry out the Parking Plan would be paid for through the revenue gained from paid parking. The initial expenses to implement the parking plan were to come from the Town Budget’s General Fund. Profits from paid parking are to be used to reimburse the General Fund for all parking plan related expenses. Thus, the goal of paying for the Parking Plan through paid parking revenue will not increase taxes for Sunset Beach property owners.

For example, Phase I of the Parking Plan is complete except for landscaping needed at the ends of the numbered streets 7-11. The total cost of Phase I as of March 31, 2025, is approximately $78,000. This includes all materials (curb stops, signage, gravel, Main St. and 40th Street parking area) and payroll for Public Works Staff. 

The first monthly check from Otto Connect covered the cost of Phase I of the Parking Plan and was deposited in the General Fund. This is a good first step in meeting our goal of paying back the General Fund for the total cost of each Phase of the Parking Plan.

 

 

Why will Town Council not have a professional traffic and parking study done taking into account the size of the island and environmental impact? 
Recently we have received suggestions that the Town hire a Professional Parking Consultant to address the needs of our island.
 
When Charlie Nern and Mike Hargreaves first began focusing on parking on the Island, they asked Council to fund a parking study, just like many of our citizens have asked us to fund a Parking Study.  They felt a parking study would answer all of our questions regarding parking on the Island.  Approximately 8 – 10 years before their request, another similar request was made to Council.  Council went out for bid and upon learning that the cost of the parking study would cost over $60,000, they did not move forward with the bid. 
When Charlie and Mike asked for the Parking Study in 2023, the Council did not see the need to spend a large sum of money to bring in outside consultants and the motion was defeated. Instead, Council approved the formation of a Citizens Parking Committee to carry out the Parking Study.
 
What is a Parking Study?  
 
Key Elements of a Parking Study:
 
A. An inventory of existing parking facilities / spaces:
The Parking Committee had as it’s very first task to inventory all of the available parking on the island, including the spaces not controlled by the Town.
 
B. An analysis of current parking conditions and utilization:
The Parking Committee found that conditions were generally confusing as to where to park.  The analysis also highlighted difficulties for Island residents when driveways and mailboxes were blocked.  The parking situation also created congestion and unsafe conditions on Main Street.
 
C. Projection of Future Parking Needs:
One of the key components to our parking study was the awareness of the proliferation of new developments in the area and influx of visitors to our Island.  The Committee’s goal was not to increase parking availability, but to clearly designate a finite number of spaces for our small island.
 
D. Improvement of Parking Management:
The Committee felt that establishing designated parking (standard space dimensions) and differentiating parking (LSV Parking) would improve parking management and safety on the island.  In other words, clearly show where a person can park.
 
In conclusion, our Parking Study was conducted by 14 residents including long-time business owners of Sunset Beach.  Through a one-year study, they produced a document containing all of the key elements of a professional parking study at no cost to our taxpayers.
  


What are the Phases of the Parking Plan and where do we currently stand regarding these Phases at this time?

The original Parking Plan for the Island was conceived and presented to Council for their approval in early February 2024.  The Plan was approved by Council with changes in July of 2024. Once the Parking Plan was approved, it was up to Town Staff to implement the Plan. Town Staff, along with Jim Varner from our paid parking firm Otto Connect, initially broke the total project into phases in order to set goals and deadlines for implementation. Currently, the Phases are as follows:

Phase I – Gazebo Lot
                        Streetscape Lot
                        7th -12th Streets
                        Main Street East End
                        North Shore Drive (Sunset Boulevard & 40th Street) (Utilized for years)
                      West End of Main Street Parking Area
 
Phase II –        Canal Drive (Utilized for Parking for Years)
                        North Shore Drive (Utilized for parking for years)
                        Main Street (Utilized for parking for years) (Currently a delay on Main Street)
 
Phase III – Boulevard Lot
 
Phase I – the goal of Phase I of the Parking Plan was to be completed by beginning of April.  We pleased to inform you that Phase I is primarily complete.  The only enhancement that needs to be completed is that the numbered streets will have landscaping installed at the ends of the streets in order to direct traffic down the proper side of the road.  We currently have barricades installed for that purpose.

The Total Number of vehicle parking spaces in Phase I is approximately 212. The approximate cost of Phase I is $78,385

Phase II – The goal of Phase II was to have Canal Drive, North Shore Drive and Main Street completed by May 2025.  As most of you know, we have a delay on Main Street that is based on adhering to the requirements from NCDOT regarding marking designated parking. 

The Town is currently working to designate parking on Canal Drive and North Shore Drive with a goal to complete this project in the next few weeks.

The Total number of vehicle parking spaces will be approximately 90 which when added to the approximately 212 spaces in Phase I, the new total will be approximately 300 parking spaces.  We will observe parking during Easter week and make a decision whether to open up other streets to temporary parking.

Phase III – The goal of Phase III is for staff to research, negotiate, and if warranted, present a proposal to Town Council to lease the Boulevard Lot as a parking area. At this point, there is no firm deadline for this Phase III.

 


What is the latest regarding the future of parking on Main Street?
Working in partnership with NCDOT, Sunset Beach and our Engineering Firm (McGill and Associates) have been developing a timeline for implementation of designated parking on Main Street. In a recent meeting with the Town’s engineer, it was decided the project on Main Street would be divided into two phases in order to open up additional parking sooner than the previous plan. Phase One will focus on West Main Street and Phase Two on East Main Street. By doing the project in this manner, West Main Street parking would be planned, approved by NCDOT, and the construction would commence. Once construction is complete for Phase One, we would be able to open West Main Street for parking. Then the same process would commence on East Main Street. Therefore, Main Street will be closed to parking with a goal to complete West Main Street during September of this year. Phase Two of the plan for East Main Street has a completion goal of Spring 2026.

Our engineering firm will continue to work with NCDOT to move forward with the designated parking plan for Main Street throughout the upcoming months. Plans will be drawn up for both the North and South sides of Main Street. Only minor surveying is needed on the South Side of Main Street since a survey already exists from the construction of the sidewalk. NCDOT has questioned the ability to park cars/trucks on the South side of Main Street in the future due to the narrow right of way between the sidewalk and the bike path. However, the engineering firm has suggested that LSV parking could be accommodated on the South side due to the narrower space requirements for LSVs. This could allow for the removal of LSV parking from the North side of Main Street.  Parking spaces on the North Side of Main Street will be designated using concrete ribbon and stone. Concrete ribbon will outline the total parking place. If approved, designated LSV parking spaces on the South side of Main Street will be the same concrete ribbon and stone as on the North side of Main Street. Concrete ribbon would just outline the ends of the parking spaces and extend from the side walk to the bike lane.


Main Street has been closed to parking since April 1, 2025. There will be no parking on Main Street until the completion of Phase One construction as per the agreement between the Town and NCDOT. In order to make up for the closure of Main Street for parking, the Town will designate additional parking on North Shore Drive East and West, as well as move forward with the plans to designate parking on Canal Drive.

Currently, our engineering firm is working on drawings for Main Street West from 36th through 40th Streets and a similar section of the South Side of Main Street. Those plans will be submitted to NCDOT for their approval. Once approved, our engineering firm will complete drawings on the remainder of West Main Street. These drawings will be submitted to NCDOT for final approval and an Encroachment Agreement, which gives their approval to begin construction.

As plans for each phase of parking on Main Street are complete, the plans will be posted on the Town’s Website and Town officials will meet with property owners, if requested, to review the parking plan for the right of way in front of their property.