Pay to park in Seaside?

I doubt the BCC has any sway in this, as it is a private community. However, the havoc it could cause on 30A would be an interesting argument.

I just heard from a reliable source that this is a test for Labor Day and yard sale day.

Because nothing goes with bargain shopping like paid valet parking! Who are they kidding?

Just in time for football season! Wait, what's the latest on TVs?

Just heard from a Seaside Merchant that an irate customer came in complaining about getting a $150 ticket for parking in Seaside. (Did not hear where she was parked) She said this is the last time they will be coming to the town. Niiiiiiice job, Seaside!

They can't possibly enforce that.

They can't possibly enforce that.

I don't think so either, but I don't think the irate guest knew...

it seems to me this is a test for next summer to keep the common folk out

all the common folk are what keeps the business boming in seaside. for principal of it i'd never pay a dime to park. Its insulting as i'm going there to overpay 100% anyway plus they want to charge to park

You can thank Robert Davis for the parking fee.

My friends who are merchants in Seaside are universally opposed to this. I am hoping that this is truly a one day experiment and the powers that be in Seaside realize the folly. Seaside, this is a big mistake and you are punishing the merchants who make money for you by discouraging the locals from shopping and dining there. Remember, we who live here support Seaside merchants 12 months of the year, not just one week.

I doubt the BCC has any sway in this, as it is a private community. However, the havoc it could cause on 30A would be an interesting argument.

I just heard from a reliable source that this is a test for Labor Day and yard sale day.

Yes, this was a trial run from what I was told. Supposed to start Labor Day (crazy ).

My opinion is that in the summer until K-12 starts back to school and during Atlanta spring break, the parking fee is justified. During those times, we stop patronizing Seaside because it is too annoying to fight for parking spots. But imposing a parking fee during other than those times of the year is ridiculous. It hurts the merchants. During the high traffic times, the idea of shuttle buses for employees is a great idea -- my brother works for Delta in ATL does that every day. But when traffic on 30A is so sparse that one could bowl on 30A with no danger, the rules should change.

What has the powers to be in Seaside been smoking? The must be completely out of their pea picking minds. We found this little piece of paradise by accident and ever since we have been coming twice a year for several years. While on 30A we make several trips a day to eat and shop in Seaside. The next great idea that they will want to do is put up a toll booth at each end of the town limits. The first time I'm charged for parking will be my last. I will find another place to spend my money.

Come to Rosemary Beach! Plenty of free parking. Live music, football on TV. We at Edward's and all of Rosemary welcome you!

I am still scratching my head over why we need the TDC to bring in more visitors. If Seaside cannot accommodate parking for current tourists as well as the locals and employees, why would we encourage more people to come here? We already deal with overflow at all the beach accesses, and 30a will not be widened. This stupid charge makes Seaside more elitist and less people friendly. You are dead right about going to the other communities. I, too, feel bad for the Seaside businesses and wonder if they had any input in this decision. We enjoy going to Modica for a beer, coffee, dessert, etc. and shopping in the other stores but we are NOT paying $5.00 for the privilege of paying more money in the first place. I do understand the property owners frustration with the parking but they did know this was a mixed use community, right???

I live in Seagrove Beach and find myself at Seaside a lot for Modica treats, Sundog books( spend a small fortune there, not to mention Rolland's Beauty Bar where I get my hair done every 4 weeks, and the Pizza Bar, meeting girlfriends at Crush, getting pineapple sorbet, ect ect ect ect

Now Seaside wants me to pay $5 to park every time I spend my hard earned money at your establishments?
You know what I say to you Mr Greedy Davis.....********* whoops can't say that but I want to.

Destin commons here I come! Maybe some of Seasides vendors will move to a more consumer friendly location before they go belly up!

Don't they want to get rid of the vendors anyway? They can build more condos that way. That's the plan right?

You have so much info. You sure you don't work there?

We are locals and go to Seaside often to grab a bite, a drink, shop etc. We headed to Seaside this evening to have dinner. When we saw the $5 parking fee we kept on going and ate elsewhere. We will NOT pay to park in Seaside. Lots of other great places to eat and shop for free. The merchants of Seaside lost our business tonight. We were planning to dine there this weekend too, but are now making other plans. What is the motive? If this move is to alleviate traffic, the traffic tonight was worse than ever. I will bid Seaside goodbye before I will pay to spend my money there.

As a local and an elitist I'm torn. It's great that I don't have to worry about finding a space to park if I do end up going to Seaside on a busy weekend (when people inevitably visit and want to go to Seaside). I will GLADLY pay $5 rather than drive around for 30 minutes trying to park. I'd rather they charge $20 to thin the herd. On the other hand there's no way I'm wasting time to have someone park and retrieve my vehicle if I just want to take the kids for ice cream at any given time.

Not my call on any of the above, just don't slow down 30a more than it already is through there. If that happens I'm guessing the locals watch the valet stand suffering the same unfortunate fire we see in the offseason with underperforming restaurants.

Here's what I don't get:

Think of all the restaurants that are located in Seaside...Bud and Alleys, Pizza Bar, Tarpon Bar, Taco Bar, Crush, Southern Cafe, Modica, Dawson, Pickels, Shrimp Shack, and then the silver bullets, all these businesses have seating.
Doesn't Walton County enforce the amount of parking spaces for each of these businesses based on seating and square footage?

Is Seaside exempted of this code?

I haven't even mentioned the store fronts and the required parking for them?????

Is the fairy tail town closing down?

I have been thinking about this like crazy since I first saw someone post about it on Facebook.

Seaside is wonderful. Many think so. Therefore it is a popular destination which shouldn't come as a big surprise that there will be traffic and lack of parking.

What I can't comprehend is how does valet parking solve either problem? I suspect it actually makes both worse.

I believe the fix is to open all neighborhood streets in Seaside to parking. First come, first served. No overnight parking without a sticker which would be given only to homeowners/renters. Put in a high tech parking meter system in the main circle (so that there wouldn't be a physical meter at each space- looks tacky). This would encourage folks to park on streets along the outskirts. Use 100% of the money collected from the meters to buy land in and around seaside which would be used for PARKING.

two cents, G

My two cents. Thank God 30A has developed to the point that, for Betty and me, Seaside is no longer a prime destination. They will no longer receive any of my business and if other locals follow this rationale, the paid parking will not bode well for them in the off season.

My opinion is that in the summer until K-12 starts back to school and during Atlanta spring break, the parking fee is justified. During those times, we stop patronizing Seaside because it is too annoying to fight for parking spots. But imposing a parking fee during other than those times of the year is ridiculous. It hurts the merchants. During the high traffic times, the idea of shuttle buses for employees is a great idea -- my brother works for Delta in ATL does that every day. But when traffic on 30A is so sparse that one could bowl on 30A with no danger, the rules should change.

Good points BR. Like you, I tend to stay away during peak seasons. But if and when I do go to Seaside I usually try to park just north of central square anyway - I wonder if that will still be allowed?

I have heard a little more info since yesterday - apparently it was a test run just for the day and if implemented, paid parking will be effective during the bigger holiday weeks such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc. I know parking is a problem and a solution is needed.

I hope Seaside will put out some information so we will know what we're talking about. We just don't know very much at this point.

I wonder how the employees fared with their new parking lot in Grayton?

I have been thinking about this like crazy since I first saw someone post about it on Facebook.

Seaside is wonderful. Many think so. Therefore it is a popular destination which shouldn't come as a big surprise that there will be traffic and lack of parking.

What I can't comprehend is how does valet parking solve either problem? I suspect it actually makes both worse.

I believe the fix is to open all neighborhood streets in Seaside to parking. First come, first served. No overnight parking without a sticker which would be given only to homeowners/renters. Put in a high tech parking meter system in the main circle (so that there wouldn't be a physical meter at each space- looks tacky). This would encourage folks to park on streets along the outskirts. Use 100% of the money collected from the meters to buy land in and around seaside which would be used for PARKING.

two cents, G

good ideas G!

I don't mind the meters at Destin Commons one bit - the money goes to local charities. But, still - I am not sure how that fixes the parking problem. The problem is not nearly enough parking available anywhere in Seaside - during peak times of the year. The solution is expanded parking - but where?

Didn't I read on this message board that parking got restricted in Grayton this summer and that people had to park in a lot north of 30A and take a shuttle bus to the businesses there? Maybe that's the solution for Seaside. During the busy times of the year, the parking area where people park for the Seaside Marathon and 5K (by Suntrust) could be used, people parking there could be shuttled to/from Seaside, and a parking fee could be charged for people not willing to take a shuttle.

I'm sure someone will point out holes in this idea. No problem -- I won't be offended.

How would the word get out to new people and those not familiar with the area about where this lot is located? Locals of course would know but by who and how would others be redirected? We have arrived at the "saturation cliff" in this area vis-a-vie tourist density. Who is going to stop the TDC from making this increasingly worse every year.