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.
What are the expenses related to the implementation of the Island Parking Plan? (06/24/25)
The following chart shows the monthly Net Revenues and Expenditures paid by the Town to implement the Island Parking Plan. We will update this chart monthly in order to keep our citizens up to date on future revenues and expenditures.
|
MONTH |
NET REVENUES |
EXPENDITURES PAID BY TOWN |
NOTES |
|
MARCH |
$88,762.00 |
$78,385.00 |
Expense includes all start-up costs associated with the program |
|
APRIL |
$83,530.00 |
$968.00 |
Payroll to finish installing parking spaces and signs |
|
MAY |
$57,735.00 |
$150.00 |
Payroll to finish installing Parking spaces and signs |
|
JUNE |
|
|
|
|
JULY |
|
|
|
|
AUGUST |
|
|
|
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SEPTEMBER |
|
|
|
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OCTOBER |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$230,027 |
$79,503 |
|
What are the Streets / Lots open for parking on the Island of Sunset Beach at this time? (06/24/25)
As of May 9, 2025, the following is a list of all streets and parking lots that are open for parking.
Gazebo Lot
Street Scape Lot
Streets 7-11
Main Street and 40th Street Parking Area
Canal Drive
North Shore Drive East and West
The Pier Lots are privately owned and consist of the Pier Lot that is located directly behind the Sunset Beach Pier and the two smaller lots across Main Street. Main Street is currently closed and the Town is in the early stages of creating surveyed drawings of designated parking spaces. The proposed parking lot along the West side of Sunset Boulevard has been surveyed and plans have been completed. The next step is final negotiations on a proposal to lease the identified properties. Council will make the final decision on this parking lot when all of the facts are available.
As we manned the Town Booth at a recent Thursday Market, questions arose about the background / reasons for the Island Parking Plan. We felt others may have similar need to know the background of the Parking Plan. (06/24/25)
Please understand that this parking effort began almost four years ago. It is an effort by Council to implement a parking plan that would better organize parking and at the same time address safety for citizens and visitors alike. In addition to working on this plan for almost four years, one key part of this effort was a parking committee made up of an equal number of citizens from both the island and mainland, along with two Island business owners, and Council members, Charlie Nern and Mike Hargreaves. This committee worked for a year before issuing their final Island Parking report. The report was presented to Council in February of 2024. Town Council passed the Parking Plan in July of 2024.
The major problem that has caused worry on behalf of Island and Mainland residents is the growing number of visitors we have coming to the Island during the Beach Season. Some say it is due to development in and around Sunset Beach, others say our beach is simply attracting more visitors in recent years. Whatever the case, we have been getting more visitors and more traffic, especially in the summer months. Our system of random parking has brought complaints from island residents who have had their driveways blocked or partially blocked by parked vehicles, mailboxes blocked so mail is not being delivered, and the dangers inherent in just pulling out of their driveways, unable to see pedestrians, bicyclists, golf carts or other vehicles. People from the mainland were having problems finding a parking space and then wondering if they would receive a ticket when they returned to their car.
Through the Parking Plan, the Town is instituting a parking system that is based on where you can park, replacing the past practice of indicating where you cannot park. Parking spaces will be clearly marked (designated) so there will be no question of where a vehicle is allowed to park.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) owns Main Street and oversees parking on that street. We were notified by NCDOT that they approved our parking plan except for the planned method of designating parking on Main Street. Since that notification, we have partnered with NCDOT and now have a mutually agreed upon plan moving forward, but it will take time to implement. Thus, the delay in opening of Main Street.
Phase I of the Parking Plan is complete and paid for through our initial earnings from paid parking. We have now begun Phase II of the plan and have opened Canal Drive and North Shore Drive to parking. The final piece of Phase II is Main Street. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Question regarding Main Street contained in this section.
This summer is going to be more challenging to find parking on the Island. However, as we finish and open Main Street as well as work on the other parts of the plan, we will get our parking numbers back to approximately 580 spaces that was set by the Parking Committee as being adequate parking for our Island. By the time we finish the Parking Plan, we will have a well-organized system of designated parking which will emphasize safety for all those visiting our Island.
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? (05/07/25)
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? (05/07/25)
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.
What are the Phases of the Parking Plan and where do we currently stand regarding these Phases at this time? (06/24/25)
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 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? (05/07/25)
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.
