Parking committee to address plans, details

Continued from Page 15 presented to the mayor and council nearly three decades ago. While the idea gained some traction over the years, it did not come to fruition.

“It never seems to have been followed though with,” Dare said.

Walker’s recent research showed that the spaces in a FILOP program can either be shared, meaning they would be available for use by all members of the general public, or reserved for exclusive use.

In Ocean City, four locations were identified for potential parking structures: the lots on Fourth and Worcester streets downtown, the convention center on 40th Street, and the 100th Street parking lot uptown.

Each spot would serve a different need based on its location, according to the research.

The plans also showed that abovegrade, structured, multi-level parking garages could be built on the sites, with or without rooftop amenities to support special events and gatherings. The presentation included details of developing more off-site surface lots on properties around town as well.

During the presentation, Dare showed examples of parking structures that the consultants presented in comparable tourist destinations. The photos he showed were of nontraditional, aesthetically pleasing structures achieved with unique architecture and colorful lighting in places such as Florida and Colorado.

“They don’t have to look like a concrete box,” Dare said.

In terms of cost, the surface lot is the most expensive per space at an estimated $67,500, mostly due to the cost of the land. However, the annual cost per space is lowest at $150. A regular above-grade surface lot is estimated to cost $50,300 per space and carries an $890 annual cost per space. The above-garage surface lot with rooftop access is the most pricey, with a projected $58,800 total price tag and $920 annual cost per space.

If a parking project comes to fruition, it will be paid for with money from the FILOP program, however a structure does not need to be built right away.

“You don’t need to have a garage to start the program,” Wilson said.

Consultants envision that the initial committee could create a parking authority or department to manage the details, which would include code changes, financing and certain aspects of management.

Wilson said the FILOP plan has support of local business and property owners, as well as representatcies from other organizations. He contended that the project is needed now more than ever with an influx of events and development projects.

Councilman Tony DeLuca, who made the motion to form the parking committee, said he has “many questions” about the concept and presentation, which he said was the catalyst for advocating to form the group.

The only other public comment came from Councilman Peter Buas, who suggested that more than one council member sit on the new parking committee.

Continued from Page 14 criteria, and the foundation’s expertise in scholarship management allows us to help our donors grow these opportunities.”

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