Delray stops short on plan to charge for parking downtown
Meters along Atlantic, pushed by staff, held for additional information.
DELRAY BEACH — After more than a decade of discussion, a plan to finally charge for parking throughout downtown Delray Beach nearly came to fruition this week, but ultimately was put on hold.
Rather than vote to place smart parking meters at more than 2,000 currently free spots along and near Atlantic Avenue at the recommendation of city experts, the Delray Beach City Commission decided Wednesday to gather more information.
”We’re a town where we don’t necessarily always listen to the experts,” Commissioner Mitch Katz said. “It’s just the way it is.”
The commission will discuss the parking plan again at an Aug. 15 meeting.
City staff recommended three plans, all of which included charging for parking in thousands of city-owned spots on surface lots, side streets and in parking garages. The plans offered different pricing per hour, with the highest charging $3.50 along Atlantic Avenue on weekends and the lowest charging $2.75.
The city’s Downtown Development Authority, whose board is made up of business owners, created and pitched its own parking plan that calls for meters only along Atlantic Avenue and one block north and south of the street.
It also suggests lower prices along the busiest street, Atlantic Avenue, ranging from $1 to $1.75 per hour.
“Go slow and steady,” said Laura Simon, director of the authority. “Go low and you can raise the prices from there.”
The authority also asked the city to delay the parking decision until a study of the downtown is carried out by urban planning expert Robert Gibbs.
Gibbs was hired in May to conduct a four-month study that will outline the best ratio of restaurants, retail space and residential units. The study will also comment on parking.
The meters would increase turnover on Atlantic Avenue to boost business, city officials say.
The commission and Downtown Development Authority appeared to disagree on an important part of the parking plan: Employee parking.
Downtown workers park in the garages and lots, but the city’s parking plan doesn’t offer a dis-
counted rate, meaning minimum-wage workers could end up paying at least $1 an hour to park.
Ryan Boylston, who runs branding firm Woo Creative on Atlantic Avenue, said covering parking for 12 employees would cost his business about $24,000 a year.
He asked the commission for a reasonable employee parking pass.
“I get it — it can’t be free. No problem,” he said. “But $24,000 a year?”
Mayor Cary Glickstein countered: Other downtowns that charge for parking don’t offer employee discounts and seem to work fine.
The lots west of Swinton Avenue will likely remain meter-free, so employees can park and walk to work, city leaders suggested.
But some business owners worry about the safety of employees trekking blocks to their cars after work.
Waiters and waitresses, bartenders and other downtown employees who leave work with wads of cash in tips feel unsafe, said Megan Gensman, who works at the Green Owl.
“I’m concerned about the security of that,” she told the commission.
Delray Beach residents will be offered a discount parking pass. The city suggested charging between $95 and $240 a year, depending on the lot.
The downtown authority suggested $95 a year for access to all lots.
Ultimately, both parties agree that parking meters are necessary, to the frustration of many downtown patrons who capitalize on free parking.
Said Glickstein: “There are two things we don’t like in Delray, and that’s change and the way things are.”