PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Big changes are coming to Sunset Beach in Treasure Island.
After years of problems with parked cars crowding residential streets, the city of Treasure Island is making some changes, and will start charging for street parking.
"It's a little bit troublesome," said Stephanie Gorham who lives on Sunset Beach.
Gorham has lived on Sunset Beach for a year, and said street parking is a big issue.
"We have a problem with people trying to block driveways, not only do they block driveways, they block mailboxes…so then the mailman can't drive up and put the mail in," said Gorham.
"Parking is a premium, its tight. There are people who will grab a side street if they can," said Jeffery Jacob who is a maintenance worker on the island.
Residents said beach visitors park in the neighborhoods to avoid paying for parking in city lots, and Jacob said its become an issue for the people who live there.
"They can barely get a parking spot, but then they can't have any friends over to hand out…so you can't really have a life," said Jacob.
The City of Treasure Island said it's also impacting emergency services.
"It's very narrow, the roadways are very narrow, there's a lot of times our emergency vehicles can't get through the area, our public works vehicles can't get through the area," said Jason Beisel with the city.
"We did have an ambulance one day for my neighbor…the streets were just full…it was Spring Break time. It was crazy," said Gorham.
Starting July 29, the City of Treasure Island will be charging five dollars an hour along residential streets on Sunset Beach, using the park mobile app.
City lots currently charge $3.75 an hour.
"The hope is that will help clear out the streets, make them less congested," said Beisel.
Beisel said street parking is still needed because the Army Corps of Engineers requires Treasure Island to have a certain amount of parking spots to qualify for funding for beach nourishment projects.
"To take away parking, that would absolutely set us back and cost us our beach re-nourishment," said Beisel.
Residents said more city parking would also be beneficial because the streets here on Sunset Beach are so narrow.
The city will also allow residents to purchase parking passes for $45 a year, and they can add their visitors to those passes.
Gorham hopes the change will help neighborhood crowding.
"Maybe they will have a little more respect for parking areas, that's my hope," said Gorham.
"They need to be aware that they’re putting families at risk”
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