CAROLINA BEACH — A beach renourishment project on Pleasure Island has affected parking passes through at least the rest of the 2024 season.
Both Carolina and Kure beaches are scheduled to undergo a renourishment cycle between Nov. 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025. The United States Army Corp of Engineers has to put it out to bid, but to do so, it also must validate the towns’ “non-federal responsibilities” in its project cooperation agreement.
This includes ensuring more than 700 parking spaces are available to both visitors and residents on “equal terms,” meaning people have to pay the same rate across the board, according to USACE’s reading. Thus it would deem residential parking passes in these areas null and void through Oct. 31, when the season officially ends.
Leaders from the Town of Carolina Beach were clear in a release from the town that it disagreed with USACE’s interpretation. While it respects its partnership with the federal agency, council indicated it only “took the action necessary to keep the nourishment project on schedule.”
Had both Kure and Carolina beach officials moved against USACE’s determination, it would potentially lose out on the $20-million beach renourishment project.
“Failure to get the project out for bid while discussions continued with the USACE would have irreparable consequences to the condition of the municipal beach strand and the dune infrastructure,” according to a release from the Town of Carolina Beach.
This will affect around 767 spaces located within one-quarter mile of the nourishment project — essentially, ocean front parking spaces and lots. This means paid parking rates of $5 an hour for on street parking and $6 to $7 an hour in lots would also need to be paid by residents until season ends in seven days.
The changes went into effect Oct. 2.
“Council has directed staff to continue speaking with the USACE about its recent interpretation in advance of council’s yearly discussion concerning resident parking passes,” the release indicated.
The passes are still valid in other areas, including downtown and street side lots, and employee passes are also allowed.
New signage is posted indicating to residents where passes are allowed.
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