Parking woes spur road realignment discussion
BY LISA NEWELL Gulf Breeze News lisa@gulfbreezenews.com

It's a problem that seems like a chicken and egg debate: should growth fund additional parking spaces on Pensacola Beach or should additional parking spaces facilitate growth?

The Santa Rosa Island Authority frequently declines new businesses or expansion of existing businesses because there is a lack of parking on the beach. However, the revenue from island businesses goes into the Santa Rosa Island Authority's general fund, which in turn could help fund a multi-level parking facility.

And while the SRIA board explores visioning studies by one consultant group after another, the issue never moves beyond know there is a need for parking.

Island Authority General Manager Buck Lee said there were days in the spring when beach parking was at capacity.

"One weekend in March, we had the same number of cars come through the toll booth as come for the air show," Lee said. "Of course, they were spread out throughout the day unlike the air show when everyone is here for the same three hours.

"The second part is people want to come and have dinner. For safety reasons, they don't want to park in the Casino Beach parking lot and have to cross the street."

Consultant Dave Hemphill brought an idea to the board Wednesday, April 25 that offers three scenarios to improve parking, each of which adds a multi-level parking garage on the Soundside of Via de Luna, in the core area. Hemphill pointed out that if a garage is placed on the site of an existing parking lot, it eliminates spaces, providing for a smaller net gain of spaces.

One scenario is to place a garage on the site of the existing Circle K.

The second scenario is to place a garage on the site of the existing SRIA building.

The third scenario is to realign Pensacola Beach Blvd. blend the existing Quietwater Boardwalk parking lot, which was recently expanded to add approximately 100 spaces, and the parking area at the Visitor's Information Center. Pensacola Beach Blvd. would be straightened to end at the Casino Beach Parking lot, with a left- or right-hand turn required of each traveler.

SRIA members asked Hemphill to bring a detailed cost analysis to the full board for the option to realign the road.

"It's very difficult to come up with $6 million," Lee said. "Escambia County realizes the impact of the revenue to Escambia County. If more locals come here, more toll revenue is generated and if people spend the night, more bed tax is generated."