Parking & Beach Improvements
Beach Access parking has been a top priority subject for the City for the past 12 years. A detail chronology of activities from 2008 to the present is included below. The significant activities are as follows.
Public Input
Input from citizens at nine (9) different Public Forums, Public Hearings and Joint meetings of City Council and the Planning Commission.
Physical Improvements
Creation of a new, permitted crosswalk at 43rd Avenue. Installation of signs to protect line-of-sight at the intersections where on-street parking is prevalent. Installation of a bright, white chalk line on the ocean side of Palm Boulevard to reinforce the message conveyed by signage to park a safe distance from the edge of the road.
Enforcement Improvements
Successfully pursued grant funding and implemented an increase in the number of Beach Services Officers from four (4) to ten (10) to guide motorists to legal beach access parking and enforce regulations related to parking violations.
Engineering Guidance
The procurement of professional transportation guidance to design, permit and install Wayfinding signs to guide beach visitors to available parking and to examine and develop approvable strategies to relieve and control parking impacts on residential areas of the island.
Reverse Chronology of Activities
July 11, 2023
In accordance with the Beachfront Management Act, S.C. Code Ann. § 48-39-250 et seq., the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (DHEC OCRM) reviewed and approved (PDF, 142.27 KB) the locally adopted Comprehensive Beach Management Plan for the City of Isle of Palms. (PDF, 18.91 MB)
The plan establishes that public beach access along Isle of Palms is excellent. The City provides 1,737 public parking spaces for beach access along 56 public access points. Isle of Palms has approximately 8 times as many public access points and public parking spaces as required to provide full and complete public access.
March 1, 2024
The City of Isle of Palms has partnered with PCI Municipal Services(opens in a new tab) to manage the city’s parking plan. Traditionally, the management of the city’s parking plan was handled by the police department. Beginning March 1, 2024, this partnership with PCI will allow the police department’s employees and officers to focus more attention on priority calls for service and higher visibility on the beaches and reduce response time for calls for service.
April 25, 2023
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, City Council unanimously adopted the revised Local Comprehensive Beach Management Plan for the City.
April 16, 2021
City Council approved Second Reading of an ordinance to implement angled parking along the landside of Palm Boulevard between 22nd and 40th Avenue.The full plan sheets are available here.
The 60-degree angle would allow vehicles traveling on the east-bound lane to pull into the parking space without needing to make a 3-point turn or drive through the residential neighborhoods to turn around and park.
By moving parked vehicles away from the active and busy travel lane to the interior of the shoulder closer to the sidewalk, motorists will have ample room along the shoulder to back out of the parking space without backing out directly on the narrow lanes on Palm Boulevard. This would also restore a shoulder area for vehicles traveling westbound to pull into while yielding to the right to allow passage of emergency vehicles traveling on Palm Boulevard.
To ensure that safe, orderly and consistent parking on the landside occurs at an angle, SCDOT proposes the installation of parking stops to delineate each parking space. The parking stops will be a temporary solution while the City and SCDOT work collaboratively to install a more aesthetically pleasing alternative. Parking stops would prevent vehicles from driving straight into the sidewalk to exit the parking space and as a result, protects pedestrians using the sidewalk.
The modification will increase the number of public parking spaces from approximately 190 to 267.
The City’s Managed Beach Parking Plan, which was approved by SCDOT in 2015, will be modified to reflect the change from parallel parking to angled parking on the non-ocean side of Palm Boulevard between 22nd and 40th Avenue. The balance of the parking plan will remain in place, including the boundaries of the residential and beach parking districts.
SCDOT will begin the installation of parking curb stops on Monday, April 19, 2021.
August 25, 2020
City Council approved pursuing the implementation of a paid parking plan for the existing beach parking areas in 2021.
July 28, 2020
City Council discussed details related to implementing a paid parking system on the existing free beach parking areas located on both sides of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th Avenue, the non-ocean side of Palm Boulevard between 41st and 57th Avenue and on the portions of the road on 3rd through 9th Avenue and the Breach Inlet parking lot. The goal is to implement the paid parking plan on Spring 2021.
July 15, 2020
City Council approved Emergency Ordinance 2020.11 to temporarily restrict parking on both sides of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th Avenue, on the non-ocean side of Palm Boulevard between 41st and 57th Avenue and on the portions of the road on 3rd through 9th Avenue. The emergency ordinance also limited parking on the Municipal Parking Lots to 50% capacity. These temporary restrictions are set to expire on Sunday, August 16, 2020.
July 6, 2020
The Public Safety Committee made a recommendation to City Council to implement paid parking on the existing free beach parking areas (both sides of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th Avenue, the non-ocean side of Palm Boulevard between 41st and 57th Avenue and on the portions of the road on 3rd through 9th Avenue) and the Breach Inlet parking lot. The Committee recommended that paid parking be enforced between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. March 1 through October 31 and provide daily and hourly parking fee options. The Committee also recommended including the Hartnett Boulevard between 27th and 29th Avenue in the Residential Parking District.
June 23, 2020
City Council passed Emergency Ordinance 2020-09, instructing City Staff to begin work as soon as possible to provide a legal mechanism to eliminate parking on the land-side of Palm Boulevard, from 22nd Avenue to 40th Avenue, not including adjacent property and land owners.
May 29, 2020
Council passed Ordinance 2020-02 effective May 30, 2020 which established the daily parking fee for the Municipal Parking
Lots at $10 Monday through Friday and $15 for Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays and set the hourly fee to park on-street on Ocean Boulevard between 10th and 14th Avenues to $2.50 and doubled parking violation fines.
November 19, 2019
Council voted to revise the beach parking plan to include parallel parking and the 4’ off pavement rule on Palm Boulevard between 41st and 53rd Avenue and to implement parallel parking from 3rd through 9th Avenue on Ocean Boulevard.
May 28, 2019
City adopted state law to allow golf carts on the beach when the driver or passenger is handicapped, and the state issued handicap placard is displayed on the cart.
January 22, 2019
Council voted to increase the parking fees in the municipal parking lots located on Pavilion Drive and on-street parking available between 10th and 14th Avenue on Ocean Boulevard.
September 25, 2018
Council passed Ordinance 2018-17 which changed visitor daily parking passes to annual, multi-use passes by eliminating the expiration and tag number and linking the number on the pass booklet to the address to which assigned and amended the parking ordinance to allow 2 free visitor pass booklets per household per year.
July 24, 2018
Council voted to allow residents to re-use the current visitor passes for the balance of 2018 and to eliminate the requirement to write a date on the passes.
July 2, 2018
Public Safety Committee voted to give residents two (2) visitor parking booklets, contingent upon finding a place in the budget where it can be funded without creating an over-budget condition.
May 22, 2018
Council passed Ordinance 2018-07 which increased the fine for parking in violation of loading zone regulations to $100.00.
March 27, 2018
Council voted to award a sole source contract to Stantec in the amount of $13,640 to analyze problem parking areas, revise the parking layout plan and to re-permit plans with SCDOT.
Council voted to prohibit trailer parking, resident or non-resident, on Waterway Boulevard with amendment to make 41st Avenue to Frank Sottille resident only parking.
Council also voted to require parallel parking on both sides of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 41st Avenues.
Council voted to change the kiosks in the Municipal Parking Lots to $1 per hour at a cost of approximately $2,385 to help the Front Beach businesses
January 23, 2018
Council voted to submit the following two (2) projects to TST for funding consideration:
- Intersection improvements to 14th Avenue and Palm Boulevard to direct cyclists and pedestrians through Leola Hanbury Park onto Palm Boulevard, and
- Regulation bike paths on both sides of Waterway Boulevard from 21st Avenue to 41st Avenue and regulation bike paths on both sides of Palm Boulevard between 21st Avenue and 57th Avenue.
Council voted to get a clear definition of a RV, a look at RV parking island-wide, and to decide how the City wants to regulate RV parking at the marina and elsewhere
May 15, 2017
The 2017 Beach Parking Season begins.
March 21, 2017
City Council approved second reading of Ordinance 2017-02. (PDF, 6.49 MB)
February 28, 2017
City Council approved First Reading of Ordinance 2017-02 (PDF, 419.9 KB), which includes the proposed changes to the beach parking management plan and an amended sign plan.
February 2, 2017
City Council held a Special Meeting (PDF, 280.47 KB) to continue discussions related to the proposed changes to the beach parking management plan.
November 1, 2016
City Council held a Special Meeting (PDF, 361.42 KB) to review and discuss the feedback received from the island residents and the City's staff and discuss recommendations for the 2017 beach season.
October 17, 2016
City Council held a Public Input Session at the Recreation Center, where residents were able to voice their concerns, comments and suggestions on the 2016 Beach Season Parking after its inaugural season.
September 15, 2016
The last date of enforcement of the 2016 Beach Season Parking Management Plan.
May 15, 2016
The City launched the 2016 Beach Season Parking Management Plan.
January 26, 2016
City Council awards a contract to A&H Company, Inc. in the amount of $58,900 for the fabrication and installation of signs for the Managed Beach Access Parking Plan.
December 3, 2015
The City holds a "Beach Parking Kick-Off" public meeting at the Recreation Center where citizens can get more information about the beach parking program and IOP homeowners and long term residents can apply for their residential parking permit.
November 17, 2015
City Council approves Second Reading and ratifies Ordinance 2015-13 (PDF, 6.55 MB) which authorizes Concept C (PDF, 6.39 MB) of the parking implementation and enforcement for the 2016 Beach Season.
October 27, 2015
City Council approves First Reading of Ordinance Amendments (PDF, 240.22 KB)to facilitate beach parking Concept C.
June 17, 2015
The City received a letter of approval (PDF, 58.94 KB) from SCDOT for its Concept C parking permit plan outline.
April 21, 2015
The Ways and Means Committee of City Council votes in favor of "Concept C (PDF, 1.45 MB)" which contains changes from previous concepts.
January 14, 2015
The City received a letter of approval (PDF, 61.18 KB) from SCDOT for its parking permit plan outline.
November 24, 2014
The City of Isle of Palms submitted a letter and parking permit plan outline (PDF, 1.36 MB) to SCDOT requesting approval.
November 14, 2014
City Council held a Special Meeting to discuss Beach Access Parking. Watch a video of the meeting below.
November 3, 2014
City Council held a Special Meeting to discuss Beach Access Parking. Watch a video of the meeting below.
October 2, 2014
City Council held a Public Hearing regarding a proposed Beach Parking Permit Program. Click here (PDF, 7.6 MB) to read the meeting presentation. Watch a video of the meeting below.
August 21, 2014
City Council and the Planning Commission held a joint special meeting during which Stantec reported on the status of their work, presented the results of their summer 2014 data collection, and outlined potential strategies for a parking management program. Click here (PDF, 9.59 MB) to view the presentation as a PDF file (10MB).
May 1, 2014:
City Council and the Planning Commission held a joint special meeting with Stantec to discuss plans for data collection and next steps in their contract work.
February 10, 2014
Staff gave a brief update on the status of Stantec's work at the Public Safety Committee meeting.
January 31, 2014
A wayfinding sign was installed on Palm Boulevard at 46th Avenue to assist visitors to Wild Dunes.
January 13, 2014
Representatives from Stantec attending the meeting of the Public Safety Committee of City Council to report on the status of the Wayfinding sign initiative and the parking managment program. Approved meeting minutes are available online.
September 24, 2013
City Council awarded a contract to Stantec for three Tasks: 1) permit program implementation plan for $68,750, 2) on-street parking reivew for $17,560, and 3) on-street field verification for $12,970.
June 2013
Wayfinding signs were installed throughout the island.
March 26, 2013
City Council approved award of a contract to Turnkey Creative in the amount of $14,274.18 for construction and installation of Wayfinding signs.
February 26, 2013
City Council approved a change order to Stantec for sign design for municipal court and the park at 1801 Palm Boulevard in the amount of $12,450, inclusive of bid documents, bid assistance and construction management for Wayfinding signs.
February 15, 2013
SCDOT issues permit number 147369 for Citywide Wayfinding Signing – Phase 1.
August 28, 2012
City Council approves award of a contract for $18,930 to Stantec for Phase Two of the Wayfinding sign project and the initiation of a parking study on the island.
July 14, 2012
City Council approved an amount not to exceed $20,000 of budgeted funds for approximately (15) Wayfinding signs.
June 27, 2012
Charleston County awards the City of Isle of Palms a grant in the amount of $40,000 in Accommodation Tax funds, which allows the City to increase its seasonal "Beach Services Officer" staff from four (4) to six (6). Among other duties, Beach Services Officers assist visitors with locating legal parking and enforce regulations regarding illegal parking.
April 24, 2012
City Council approved award of a contract to Stantec for consultation on Wayfinding Signs in the amount of $9,500.
March 27, 2012
City Council charged the City Administrator with locating a consultant that could assist the City with wayfinding signs to direct beach visitors to the municipal parking lots, the County Park, or the kiosk parking on Front Beach.
March 2012
The balance of signs conveying the message of "No Parking Here To Corner" were installed along Palm Boulevard in advance of the 2012 beach season.
March, April, May and June 2012
Per the joint meeting of February 20, 2012, the Committees of Council held focused discussions on a variety of topics related to parking management as put forth by the Planning Commission.
February 20, 2012
City Council and the Planning Commission held a joint meeting to discuss parking management. Read the meeting minutes. Watch the meeting video. In the meeting, Mayor Cronin made assignments to the various Committees of City Council to take up discussion regarding the Planning Commission's recommendations.
January 11, 2012
The Planning Commission, considering the public forum feedback, sorted their list of potential parking solutions into long-term and short-term goals.
September 20, 2011
In the alternative to issuing a Request for Qualifications for consultants for beach access parking, the Ways and Means Committee decided to ask the Planning Commission to revisit the issue of beach access parking and come up with a comprehensive plan.
August 2011
City Council directed staff to develop a Request for Qualifications to seek a consultant to make recommendations regarding beach access parking.
July 25, 2011
The City held a public hearing to receive citizen input regarding a proposed ordinance amendment to execute one of the strategies discussed as a potential parking solution. Read the meeting minutes.
June 6, 2011
The Ways and Means Committee of City Council holds a special meeting to review FY 12 Operating and Capital Budgets. City staff is tasked with budgeting for the implementation of potential parking solutions discussed at the joint meeting of May 11, 2011.
May 11, 2011
City Council and the Planning Commission hold a third joint meeting to discuss the four points of the Planning Commission's parking plan which were 1) parking nodes on Ocean Boulevard, 2) parking on Palm Boulevard, 3) pay to park, and 4) restricting non-resident parking on the avenues. Read the meeting minutes. Watch the meeting video.
Spring 2011
The City begins drawing a white chalk line four feet from the pavement on Palm Boulevard to guide motorists to the safe and appropriate parking as prescribed by existing signage. The chalk line is inexpensive and successful, keeping vehicles a safe distance from the road.
Spring 2011
Based on successful implementation on Carolina Boulevard, the City orders signage conveying the message "No Parking Here To Corner" for Carolina Boulevard and a long stretch of Palm Boulevard to prevent vehicles from parking close to corners and inhibiting line-of-sight.
March 9, 2011
The minutes of the Planning Commission regular meeting of this date include several exhibits that summarize the comments received at the public parking forum.
February 23, 2011
The Planning Commission holds a public forum to solicit input from residents regarding the parking discussions that have been taking place within the Planning Commission and City Council.
October 19, 2010
A second special, joint meeting was held between City Council and the Planning Commission to continue discussions on their parking plan. Read the meeting minutes.
July 2010
City Council and the Planning Commission held a special, joint meeting to present the parking plan developed by the Commission to the policy setting body. The meeting covered a wide range of issues related to parking. Read the meeting minutes.
December 9, 2009
The Planning Commission hosted the Police Chief at its regular meeting to discuss parking issues.
October 27, 2009
City Council authorized the City Administrator to pursue installation of a crosswalk on Palm Boulevard at 43rd Avenue.
September 22, 2009
City Council held a public hearing to receive citizen input on Ordinance 2009-12 to Amend the Comprehensive Plan for the City, which included two knew elements, one of which was transportation.
August 2009 through August 2010
Planning Commission discusses a parking plan at its regular meetings.
May 5, 2009
The Real Property Committee of City Council received statistical information collected by an engineering class of Citadel cadets who had taken as a class project the evaluation of parking at the City-owned Isle of Palms Marina.
April 2, 2009
Police Chief Buckhannon reported to the Public Safety Committee that he was in receipt of a letter from SCDOT authorizing two (2) hour parking on 25th Avenue along Waterway Boulevard.
March 12, 2009
City Administrator Tucker reported to the Public Safety Committee regarding a letter the City received from SCDOT as a result of the City's query about bicycle paths on Palm Boulevard from 21st Avenue to 41st Avenue. The letter confirmed an existing 100-foot right-of-way and SCDOT's support for the City's efforts to determine feasibility, which has not been done to date by SCDOT.
January 28, 2009
City Council awarded a contract for management of the municipal parking lots to Schupp Enterprises for years 2009 – 2012.
September 10, 2008
As part of its ongoing review of the Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Commission decides that a synopsis of the parking issue and strategy for addressing it should be added to the to the Transportation Element of the Plan.
September 8, 2008
In preparation to issue a request for bids for management of the municipal parking lots near the Front Beach, the Real Property Committee of City Council interviews the current contractor on historical practices. Comparative statistics regarding parking in the County Park were also obtained to inform this discussion.
June 11, 2008
The Public Safety Committee approved improvements for golf cart parking at 23rd and 25th Avenue.
May 14, 2008
The Public Safety Committee of City Council discusses various, localized issues related to parking on the island near the Sea Cabins, near 25th Avenue, and concerning golf carts. Concerns that come forward from citizens or that are observed by Councilmembers and City staff receive due diligence in the form of evaluation, public discussion, and consideration if any action is warranted.
April 9, 2008
The Planning Commission regular meeting is attended by Mark Nesbit of SCDOT. The Commission queried Mr. Nesbit regarding the City's ability to regulate parking on state-owned roads. Mr. Nesbit stated that SCDOT would only approve parking limitations that were necessary to improve safety or provide access to individuals' properties.
February 26, 2008
The City receives a Community Development Block Grant from Charleston County in the amount of $20,000 to improve access to the beach for physically challenged individuals. City Council awards a contract to Henley's Construction in the amount of $86,900 to replace the 21st Avenue Beach Access. Construction was completed for the 2008 beach season on an improved and ADA compliant access.
February 26, 2008
City Council approved the Local Comprehensive Beach Management Plan for submission to SCDHEC OCRM. The plan "serves as a repository of public beach access and parking information" (p. 37). According to the plan, "the number and distribution of public access points are excellent, and sufficient access facilities and parking exist to classify 69% of the Isle of Palms beach as having full and complete access per the state guidelines" (p. 40).
February 13, 2008
As part of recent workshops with business owners in commercial districts and in preparation for an upcoming Comprehensive Plan Review, the Planning Commission discusses parking issues related to the Front Beach area.