By Lia Sestric
lsestric@abcnews4.com
ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCIV) -- After years of complaints, the City of Isle of Palms may have an answer to beach parking concerns. It doesn't include free parking.
"It's a burden to us," Mayor Dick Cronin said. "We're going to try to discipline it."
Mayor Cronin said for the last three years, the city has been working to address property owner complaints of beach goers not picking up after themselves.
"The problem for the beach and parking is that people don't respect the neighborhoods in which they're parking," he said.
To relieve the congestion, the city planning commission recommended a seasonal pass on Wednesday. Now it will go to city council for review.
"We want people to come to the beach. We want them to leave the beach the way they found it. However, that's not the reality of today."
The seasonal pass would cost $65 dollars, a price that some say they're unwilling to pay.
"I'll go to another beach. Folly Beach, I'll go to Myrtle Beach, somewhere else," Tony Thompson of Mount Pleasant said.
City officials say such is not their intent, but they want to get a handle on what they consider an unsafe situation for pedestrians. They also want to keep island residents happy.
"There are so many more people coming to the island these days," Cronin said. "It's just going to get worse."
There are other parking options available. The city offers beach-front parking, for a daily rate of $5, or a seasonal pass for $50.
Mayor Cronin said some of the spots go unused even during peak season.
"Many people still park in our right away on Palm Boulevard and other avenues on the island," Cronin said.
There is also meter parking.
If approved by city council, up to 1,000 of the passes would be issued no earlier than 2013.
