From the other thread:
SJ:
You are correct, a big issue is parking and will continue to be unfortunately there are only a few places where the County owns land that is large enough for parking and restrooms. The TDC doesn't own anything, not even the building we are sitting in because we can't buy property. It has to be the County Commission. We are the developers/managers/maintainers of the access areas just like Public Works maintains roads.
One question I would be curious for input on from anyone who cares to answer- building parking "garages" at the existing beach accesses that have parking capability. Please let me preface this by saying there are no plans for this along 30-A so please don't start spreading rumors that the TDC is going to build parking garages at beach accesses on 30-A :nono1: , it is only a question for discussion.
Brad, thanks for the clarification on the TDC/County. It was always a gray area to me, as it probably is to most people. You explained it clearly.
As for parking decks, while parking is the biggest issue IMO, I don't think parking decks are the answer. I picture parking decks as a four story concrete nasty looking object, which will dump a crap load of people onto one small access. I think we need some parking at all of the public accesses. Right now, it would be nice to see a few more additional parking lots similar in size to the one btw WaterColor and Seaside, several more accesses with parking area similar in size to Ed Walline, and perhaps at some of the lesser used accesses could have parking area similar in size to the one at Oyster Lake (or is it Lake Allen).
Now if they could design a parking garage to look like a Florida Cottage, maybe...:scratch: Perhaps there are designs for parking garages which are well designed asthetically speaking, and maybe they could blend in, but I wouldn't want to see them blocking off the only remaining views of the Gulf.
Brad, will you comment on the lack of restrooms and any plans for the future for them at these accesses? I think that is almost as critical as the parking.
when is the tdc going to start building these garages?;-)
i think a multi story parking facility at the watercolor/seaside lot would be a great idea, since a large footprint is probably required for the ramps. i'm sure homeownwers adjacent to it would be screaming about it, but what choice do we have. the county is growing, and there's no question that available parking(legal or not) is dissappearing. the county really needs to start planning yesterday on how to keep up. it's quite the catch 22. >> soon, it may be too much of a hassle to bring the nuclear family here, and they'll find the next best place, or at least a place where they can park within 500' of the beach.
I would like to throw an idea into the hat regarding parking garages. If you guys decide to build them, build them for the users, not the County. Don't max these things out with "small car only" spaces which no one other than rapunzel can use, just to pump up the number of spaces in the literature.
Brad, I have seen some small garages in Atlanta, but it seems to me that the ramps take up so much of the space. With the existing properties owned by the County, how many are large enough to erect a garage?