Parking at Delray Beach may go up
Spots may increase by 67% in some instances
DELRAY BEACH – Delray Beach might soon increase the cost of parking at the beach — possibly as much as 67% in some cases.
And only residents would be allowed to buy annual parking decals to park in the city’s metered beach lots, the same as most other cities.
Previously, anyone could buy a permit for $90 per year and park in any of 432 parking spaces. Under a new proposal, people who live elsewhere would have to pay the $1.50 hourly rate every time they go to the beach, which could add up quickly for frequent beachgoers.
The city also is considering stricter regulations for its senior beach passes, which cost $95 and allow permit-holders to park in the parallel spots along State Road A1A. The current proposal would increase the age requirement from 62 to 70.
City commissioner Adam Frankel said the city also might discuss increasing the annual permit rate to $150 per year, a 67% jump.
“With everything going on in the world, the city needs to look at any avenue to bring in money to off-set expenses,” Frankel said. Even a $60 increase would be a bargain, he said.
$150 a year “to me is very low,” Frankel said. “You’re talking way
less than $10 a month to park at a meter that would be much more if you were doing so.”
“Should [people] go more than twice a month, they’re going to be saving money. Now, if you’re going to go once every six months, it’s probably not the greatest investment in the world. … For some people, they would think it’s a bargain.”
Requiring proof of residency would put Delray Beach in line with most of South Florida. Beach parking permits, however, are much lower in nearby cities such as Boca Raton ($62), Boynton Beach ($50) Deerfield Beach ($75) and Fort Lauderdale ($24).
This year, Delray Beach has sold 302 standard beach parking passes, which translates to nearly $29,000 in annual revenue once taxes are included. The passes provide access to the parking lots by Atlantic Dunes, Orange Grove, Ingraham Park, Anchor Park and Sandoway Park.
The senior passes have been extremely popular, with the city selling 778 for annual revenue of over $78,000.
Delray city commissioners were scheduled to discuss the plan Tuesday night.
“If anybody’s going to get a break in parking, it should be the residents; it should not be outsiders,” Delray Beach mayor Shelley Petrolia said during a meeting July 14. “The city taxes are tremendous, and they’re paying for these beaches. It’s not the outsiders who are paying for these beaches.”