Isle of Palms considers bringing back seasonal parking passes

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCBD) –Isle of Palms is considering bringing back their seasonal pass for beach parking.

Earlier this year, Isle of Palms increased parking rates for this season which got rid of their seasonal pass. Now they are rethinking that decision.

The price would increase from the previous $60 each season to up to $250.

“I had the employee season pass last summer, I worked at Coconut Joes, and I personally enjoyed it. It was only $60, so it worked for when I worked here and then also, I got to use it when I wasn’t working so I really enjoyed it,” said Meagan Witthauer, a former employee on the Isle of Palms.

The employee pass will stay at $60 but for other people coming to visit the beach, it may go as high as $250. The public safety committee met with the parking management company, PCI, to discuss the possible return of the seasonal parking pass.

“We have limited number of spaces out here during the tourist season, it gets packed in those two lots, so it will be a higher rate. In the past it’s been a $60 rate, and it will go up considerably higher than that,” said Rusty Streetman, an Isle of Palms Councilmember.

PCI was asked to crunch the numbers on the issuance of $200 and $250 a year seasonal passes for non-island residents, more likely for Tri-county residents only. PCI claims that the return of seasonal passes could reduce the revenue the city receives, but councilmembers are hoping to still give the opportunity for seasonal passes

“I think it supports our businesses on front beach if we have extra parking for them. The other thing is it’s a neighborly thing to do. We have those across the connector in Mount Pleasant North Charleston or wherever in the Tri County area that like to visit the beach and if we have a limited number of passes, we can make available to them for affordable rate that would be helpful to them,” said Streetman.

The committee will reconvene on May 6th to decide on bringing back the seasonal pass.