WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — Ask anyone who has tried to go to Wrightsville Beach over a sunny weekend and most likely one of the first things they mention is the nightmare that is finding parking on the island. It’s no surprise since the town is relatively small and can only accommodate a finite number of visitors, but the Town of Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen does have a chance to help solve some of these parking issues.
If the board chooses to approve three parking projects during its Tuesday night meeting, it would add almost 100 new spots for visitors to park on the island.
The first location would be across from the Parks and Recreation building at 321 Causeway Drive.
“Currently there are only eight parking spaces in this location and a grassy field. The creation of this parking lot will provide 40-42 parking spaces, depending on what site plan is chosen,” according to Director of Planning and Parks Tony Wilson’s submittal to the board.
The second location is found at 2 Bob Sawyer Drive. The renovation of the current lot would increase parking spaces to 127 total — a 17-space increase.
The North End
Parking on the north side of town is significantly more limited which is why there is a suggestion to create a new parking lot past the Shell Island Resort on North Lumina Avenue.
“This project will include the addition of 47 parking spaces. Twenty of the parking spaces closest to the estuarine shoreline will be pervious [capable of absorbing stormwater] surface. Site drainage will be directed towards these parking spaces to reduce runoff … This project will not encroach upon the Mason’s Inlet conservation area,” Wilson wrote.
The Board of Aldermen will meet Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m.
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