FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Residents in Fernandina Beach are hoping their voices will be heard when it comes to paid parking.
The Fernandina Beach City Commission will discuss Tuesday what to do with a petition that could send the city’s paid parking plan to a public vote.
Back in April, News4JAX reported the plan would charge for “premier” parking spots — bordered by Ash and Alachua Streets, stretching from Front Street to Eighth Street.
If commissioners reject the proposal, they could move forward without voter approval. If this plan moves forward, it could impact dozens of businesses in historic downtown.
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On one end, city leaders say it’ll be beneficial for the city, but many business owners along this strip say it’ll take away the city’s charm.
“I am very against it. I think it’s a very bad idea,” Kimberly Aspinwall, owner of Amelia Linen and Wood, said. “For one, this is a very quaint small town that is extremely welcoming to everybody that comes here, and it is why everyone falls in love with it. And it’s going to take away that intimate charm that we have in our town.”
City leaders say adding paid parking could generate around $2 million in revenue — money they say would help fund several major infrastructure projects, including:
- A new seawall —estimated at $20 to $25 million
- Demolishing Brett’s Waterway Café and reconnecting docks — $5 to $7 million
- Rebuilding aging downtown infrastructure — $10 to $15 million
There’s a strong chance this decision could end up on the November 2026 ballot, or possibly during a special election next August. But some residents said they don’t want it on any ballot at all — they’d rather see the plan scrapped entirely.
“The petition is quite picky. Your address has to be in a certain area of the island to be able to sign it. I live on the island and my address still doesn’t qualify for it. I was not able to and most people who work downtown don’t even live on the island which is just so unfair because they’re unable to have an opinion for paid parking. And our boss who owns these two businesses wasn’t even able to sign it,” Elise Hansen and Leanne Sellers, who work at Salty Local, said.
Commissioners are expected to meet at 6 p.m.