FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Despite strong pushback from residents, paid parking in Fernandina Beach is headed to the ballot.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, city commissioners rejected an ordinance that aimed to ban the parking fees, even though it was brought to them through a petition signed by more than 1,700 locals.
Recommended Videos
“You have the ability to accept the petition that several of us worked so incredibly hard on and allow the residents of this city to have their say on paid parking,” a resident said during public comment.
The ordinance did not pass, which means the paid parking plan will move forward, and the Paid Parking Political Committee Ordinance will be placed on the 2026 General Election ballot.
The paid parking plan would charge for “premier” parking spots — bordered by Ash and Alachua Streets, stretching from Front Street to Eighth Street.
RELATED | Fernandina Beach community protests proposal for paid parking in historic downtown district | Fernandina Beach community pushes back against proposal for paid parking in historic downtown that could ‘ruin the vibe’
On one end, city leaders say it’ll be beneficial for the city, but many business owners along this strip have been pushing back against the proposal for months, saying 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
Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue had made a motion to have a special election in order for voters to decide the issue before signing any management contracts to implement the paid parking program. However, that motion died on the floor for a lack of a second, which then put the issue on the 2026 ballot.
“Let them vote. Let the people vote. Let them have their vote,” Ayscue said.