The lively discussion over proposals to make parking more available to downtown shoppers and diners leads me to larger questions that are far more reaching and even more complicated than parking.  Let me explain.

I sent out an email, and posted on Facebook, proposed changes to parking as recommended to City Council by The Redevelopment Commission and Mainstreet, Beaufort.  I sought community input, and I got an earful! I received a broad array of opinions, many that reflected on how writers would be personally affected by changes and others that spoke to the greater community good.  I heard from shoppers, people who work in retail shops and others who work in restaurants.  Some respondents were City residents while many others live outside the City limits but consider Beaufort their hometown. (This is a good thing!)  I heard from people who have lived in Beaufort since childhood and many who relocated to the area recently.

It’s been a healthy discussion and I believe it will lead to the best possible decision.  However, some of the undercurrents speak to an issue much larger than parking.  

Comments like . . .  “I don’t shop and dine downtown because I can’t find a parking space”. . . along with . . . “if I have to pay more to park downtown, I will go to Hilton Head and Bluffton where I do not have to pay” . . . concern me.

When retail shop owners say . . . . “customers cannot find parking spaces because employees park on Bay Street” . . . and employees say. .  “it is unsafe to walk a block to our cars after work,”  I am troubled. 

Threats like . . . “Changes will chase shoppers to businesses like Wal-Mart and K-Mart where parking is free,” . . . are confusing.

And the following . . . ” While I was investigating Beaufort (to locate from elsewhere) I did take into account the inexpensive parking rates in downtown, the available parking not at meters, and the parking meter expiration at 6 pm.  I can not support both an increase in the parking rates and the extension of the fees to 9 PM.  I feel so strongly about this that I can say that I will take my business to other areas of Beaufort without these restrictions” . . . . take me to the edge of anger.

If these comments, and similar ones too lengthy to include, reflect the broader community view, one should ask:  Can we not see beyond our own noses to think about others?  Are we so angry at government that we refuse to hear City Council when we say this is about making parking work, and it is not driven by money grubbing?  (Parking revenues go to a special fund to promote marketing and improvements downtown, and are not comingled into the general fund.)

Is it fair to conclude that downtown Beaufort no longer works as a “hometown downtown?”  Is the Beaufort experience really interchangeable with any other place, USA where parking is free?

Some will remember a time, not that many years ago, when Bay Street stores were vacant with windows boarded up when a thriving downtown   — that once featured three supermarkets, three pharmacies, a half dozen clothing stores, two five and dime stores, two barber shops, two beauty parlors, two hardware stores, four service stations, three automobile dealerships, and Beaufort County’s only public library — was abandoned in favor of big box offerings driven by residential and commercial sprawl changes in lifestyle consumer behavior.

Others will remember the late Bill Cochrane, the developer of  Dataw Island who created Mainstreet, Beaufort under the downtown revitalization model set forth by The National Trust for Historic Preservation.  For those who do not know, Bill threw his weight, and the strength of those he brought to Beaufort, behind the vision of former Mayor Henry Chambers who knew that the Waterfront Park, which is rightly named after him, would revive a dying downtown. Clearly they got it right as we now have one of the most beautiful downtowns in this world.

Because the City Council believes our historic downtown,  accented by the Waterfront Park,  is the golden egg that brings economic value and a richer quality of life to the approximately 60,000 people who call Beaufort home, our budget will allocate nearly $1 million toward maintaining the core business district and Waterfront Park. (This includes debt service on renovations that a small city –comprised of only about 12,000 moderate to low income residents, half of whom rent — could not afford to restore the park without borrowing.)  That’s right. . . . about $1 out of every $12 the city collects will be invested to make downtown every better.  And this does not include additional funds invested in Mainstreet, the Chambers of Commerce and our cultural organizations who “market” Beaufort to those who live here, those who visit and those who might one day move here.

One might assume from writers’ comments that perhaps we are not using the taxpayer’s money as wisely as we should be?  Though I know the answer, I have to ask . . . Is shopping at the big boxes comparable to shopping downtown?  Is dining out on the highway, or in Hilton Head or Bluffton where parking is “free” comparable to dining downtown where you can walk off your lunch or dinner with a stroll through a glorious waterfront park?  Is taking one’s children for a walk around a big box “free parking lot” comparable to taking them to the playground at the Waterfront Park on a beautiful afternoon or weekend morning?     I think and hope NOT.

So what is this all about? 

To remain healthy, Downtown Beaufort must grow. We need more people living in and around downtown. We must encourage, and provide help if necessary, those who live near downtown to fix up their homes. We must encourage others to build houses on vacant lots. We must open our minds to more buildings, while respecting those that serve as the physical signature to our beloved National Historic Landmark.   (A group created a model that shows how 21 residences can fit compatibly on the Post Office block, where about ten houses used to fit, without sacrificing our retail post office and without changing the zoning ordinance.)

Furthermore, we must bring back businesses that fled downtown to create very inefficient, and expensive for the county to maintain, urban business cores in suburban and rural areas.   

More people living and working in downtown is necessary for a healthy downtown.  It will drive up consumer demand for a more diversified retail mix.  It will create an alternative to the “neo-traditional walking communities” springing up in the county that require cars to get to and from. It will provide additional safety through numbers. More people will be walking and riding bicycles and the car will not be as necessary. And it will meet what most real estate prognosticators suggest will be the demand for tomorrow’s buyers . . . small, efficient homes close to goods and services and recreation.

If one reviews the City’s 2010 Comprehensive plan, and the mission directives established for the Joint Planning and Redevelopment Commissions, one will see we are headed toward focusing on infill development of vacant lots, redevelopment of under utilized land and structures, encouraging businesses to locate in the business district and fostering the growth of USCB and the many cultural organizations that make our community special.

Beaufort is a little broken and, with your help, your understanding and your support, we intend to fix it.  Lets think about the greater community and the hometown we all love and want to see thrive into the next century.

We will “fix” parking and will grow to be an even better community.

On Tuesday, City Council will consider recommended changes for managing downtown parking.  I believe some background and explanation is in order since this decision effects the sustainability of downtown and The Historic District which are an important part of the City of Beaufort and the greater Beaufort area. 

 

Please take the time to review and let me and my colleagues on City Council know your thoughts as we will hold first reading Tuesday (2-23-2010 at 6 pm) and second will follow in two to four weeks.

 

Feel free to contact me at billyk@islc.net or join us at the City Council meeting to personally share your thoughts. Our temporary meeting place is in the court room of the new City Police and Court Complex at the corner of Boundary and Palmetto Streets with the entry on the west side across from the city hall which is under construction.

 

The proposal:

Principle changes affecting the 476 downtown parking spaces:

1.  Change parking fine for expired meters from $3 to $10
2.  Increase hourly rates from $.50 to $1.00
3.  Eliminate time limits on all meters except at the Visitors’ Center, (The Arsenal on  Craven Street) where parking will be restricted to 30 minutes to ensure turnover by those who check in at the Center
4. Install new parking pay stations that accept credit and debit cards
5. Set aside two parking spaces on Carteret and Craven Streets for tour bus loading and unloading
6. Make spaces available to employees at the rate of $35 per month
7. Maintain 132 coin operated meters in selected places
8. Enforce Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm
9. Provide relief to Point and Old Commons Neighborhoods in the event daily parking encroaches on their neighborhoods

10.Work with owners of private lots, used primarily by employees, to  

     maximize the opportunity for parkers and property owners.

 

A New Solution to an Old Story

When I came home from Washington, DC to live in Beaufort, just over 20 years ago, my first volunteer activity was to serve on the Board of Mainstreet, where I was on the Parking Committee and, not long thereafter, became the Committee Chair. During my tenure, and the tenure of those before and after me, we faced “the problem” of inadequate parking downtown.  During that period, and many times since, the City and Mainstreet commissioned multiple studies, some by merchants and others by consultants.  Each demonstrated that the principle downtown parking challenge was employee parking, irregular enforcement and the inefficient use of public and private open space.

 

Though I know some are concerned about proposed changes, I am proud that City Council had the courage to explore a new way, since after many, many years, the City failed to fix the problem.

 

Yes, we surrendered and turned to someone who has the ability to correct what is wrong.  Accordingly, we assigned parking management to the City Redevelopment Commission, in concert with Mainstreet, Beaufort, USC,  since we believe downtown merchants have the highest stake in a parking system that works and they have paid the price for its failure over the years. Furthermore, income from downtown parking will no longer go to the City’s General Fund; it will go through the Redevelopment Commission to Mainstreet and be used to fund improvements to the downtown area and for expanded marketing.

 

Because they are there day-to-day, merchants and restaurant owners understand the needs of their customers and employees.  To help them with this assignment, they retained professional help through Lanier Parking Systems, a company with years of experience managing parking throughout the region and elsewhere.

 

The Challenge

The principal purpose of regulated parking is to ensure turnover so that shoppers can come and go with a reasonable expectation that they can find a convenient place to park.  (As an aside, when I was on the Parking Committee, we tried free and meter less parking, but it did not work: the trust was abused and there was little turnover, leaving few spaces for shoppers. Accordingly, we removed the bags from meters except during the month of Christmas, and resumed metered parking.)

 

The principal challenges to making parking work are: creating an alternative for employees who otherwise feed Bay Street meters all day long and into the evenings, thereby not leaving space for shoppers; installing meters that do not require “correct” change; consistent enforcement; and better utilizing public and private parking lots.

 

For those who do not know, the transition from City Management to the partnership between Redevelopment Commission (in partnership with Mainstreet) became a done deal last year.  There was pubic debate, I wrote about it in this newsletter and the news media reported our actions. I am sorry if anyone is caught by surprise.

 

The issue currently on the table is fees, penalties and alternative long term parking options for those who work downtown.

 

Proximity is The Underlying Factor

1. Retail customer to retail seller
2. Restaurant patron to restaurant
3. Client to service provider
4. Employee to place of employment

 

My thoughts: 

 

1. Change the fine from $3 to $10

The current $3 fine does not discourage illegal parking. One is only charged a fine when one violates limits. Through pay stations, the challenge of correct change and time limits are eliminated.

 

1.  Increase hourly rates from $.50 to $1.00

This is not unreasonable as it compares very favorably with other similar cities. 

 

1. Eliminate time limits on all meters except at visitors center

When one pays, one gets to park as long as one wants, but it is likely with the proposed $1 per hour, only those who are seeking short term parking will use those spaces while those who want long term parking will chose a less expensive alternative. Some have asked why we would replace perfectly good meters.  The answer is that the technology currently in place is out dated and needs replacement in most places anyway.

 

1. Install new parking pay stations that accept credit and debit cards as well as coins

This eliminates the challenge of not having correct change. Furthermore, if parkers wish, the technology exists to call their mobile telephones through which they can extend their parking time without leaving the shop or restaurant at which they are doing business. (I am actually not certain if this option will be installed initially, but the equipment has the capacity to do so.)  Furthermore, the kiosk approach creates a simpler opportunity for merchant validation of parking for their customers.

 

1. Set aside two parking spaces on Carteret and Craven Streets for short term parking and tour bus loading and unloading

This is required to get tour busses closer the visitor’s center and will encourage tourists walking to Bay Street to see businesses on the side streets. It also makes in more convenient for visitors to make quick stops at the Visitors’ Center.

 

1. Make spaces available to downtown employees at the rate of $35 per month

This is to ensure employees have affordable parking. While it is counter productive for employees to park at meters on and close to Bay Street, it is important to shop and restaurant owners that their employees have reliably available, affordable and safe parking when they work. 

 

1. Maintain 132 coin operated meters in selected places

Meters appear to be working in certain areas so there is no need to replace

 

1. Enforce Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm

Enforcing meters into the evenings will further discourage restaurant employees from using spaces that customers could otherwise use when they choose to dine downtown. 

 

1. Provide relief to Point and Old Commons Neighborhoods in the event daily parking encroaches on their neighborhoods

In the event employees migrate into these neighborhoods for free long term parking, thereby making it difficult to residents and their guests to park near their homes, the neighborhood associations are encourage to ask the city to manage parking in their neighborhoods through a sticker system or other means acceptable to residents. 
. 

 

10.Work with owners of private lots, used primarily by employees, to  

     maximize the opportunity for parkers and property owners.

Through Lanier Parking Systems, the Redevelopment Commission and Mainstreet have worked with private property owners to better manage their lots to ensure even more opportunities for those who work downtown.

 

Furthermore, while not an issue for discussion at tomorrow’s Council Meeting,  since the Redevelopment Commission has already contracting parking management to Lanier, police officers will be more available to patrol the downtown, when downtown needs to be patrolled, and the City Police Department has been relieved from writing tickets, emptying the meters and accounting for the money.  Lanier will be on the streets continuously during all parking hours and they have opened a small office on Scotts Street across from Blackstone’s in what was once the terminal grill.

 

Please take the time to think about the recommendations and let me and my colleagues on council know your thoughts.  As I said, we will be considering the changes on first reading on Tuesday and second reading will follow in two to four weeks. 

 

Thanks for the benefit of your counsel as your city tries to do the best we can to maintain a sustainable downtown and celebrated Historic Landmark District.

 

Billy Keyserling

Dear Editor

As the Mayor Beaufort, I want to thank Ron Tucker and the Beaufort Film Society, with its long list of dedicated and hard working volunteers who worked long and hard to give us the Beaufort International Film Festival. It was a class act which shone a bright and beautiful light on our community.  The sea http://www.beaufortfilmsociety.org/mlessly well organized event brought filmmakers from far and near to share their works with the people of Beaufort, created a sense of give and take among all and fueled the level of appreciation and thirst for independent film making in the Lowcountry. 

Saturday night’s event, the awards ceremony, created a very special moment in time for Beaufort. It began with SCETV presenting the ‘Southern Lens Award’ to the lowcountry’s own, Greg Smith of Bluffton, for his brilliant documentary “Keeping the May River Wild.”

The crescendo came when actor,  Michael O’Keefe (who played the role of Pat Conroy in the “The Great Santini”),  presented  the Ribaut Acting Award to Blythe Danner (who played Conroy’s mother in Santini) who then presented the Ribaut Writing Award to Pat Conroy. 

I would encourage all to support and become members of the Beaufort Film Society so that we can have an even bigger and better Festival in 2011 which is our Tricentennial year. To learn more and join go online online to http://www.beaufortfilmsociety.org/.

Thank you Beaufort Film Society.

Sincerely

Billy Keyserling