Ocean City Proposes 51 Parking Spots in Area of Proposed Skateboard Park

Ocean City Council passed an ordinance on first reading that adds 51 parking spaces to accommodate for visitors to the proposed skateboard park on Thursday night.

The additional parking spaces were introduced as part of an overall ordinance concerning multiple changes in the city’s ordinance concerning parking meters and time limit parking.

When city officials looked over the ordinance to make the changes needed for skateboard park parking, they realized additional changes would be needed, according to City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson.

The complete list of changes can be found in the agenda packet for last week’s meeting.

The proposed change for the skateboard park is listed under for non-metered lots at 5th and Asbury.

The proposed location for the new lot is a city-owned parking lot next to the fire department.

Residents who live in the area previously voiced concerns about the impact on parking in the area, and the city had promised that a new parking spot would be created for each one lost due to the presence of the skateboard park.

“It’s still going to be as close to one-to-one as ratio as possible,” Councilman Michael DeVlieger said Thursday night. “In addition to the 51 spots proposed by this ordinance, there will be another eight spots for the clothes closet, three in front of where the clerk’s office was (while city hall was being repaired following Sandy), and 13 spots will be added on the Sixth Street side.”

In addition to the ordinance, council passed a consent agenda resolution to upgrade the fence that will surround the skateboard park. The $15,481 change order brings the new cost of the contract previously awarded to Spohn Ranch to $747,765.

The proposed skateboard park will replace the original skateboard park at Sixth Street and Boardwalk that was shut down in 2011 by the city, which cited safety concerns due to deteriorating equipment and the use of bicycles in the park as contributing factors.

It wasn’t long before skateboard enthusiasts in Ocean City began a movement to have the park returned to the city.

City officials approved plans for a new skateboard facility last summer, and awarded the contract to Spohn Ranch in April.

Councilman Peter Guinosso questioned another aspect of the ordinance introduced Thursday night that designates five spots at the Shelter Road Soccer Field rear parking lot for oversized vehicles and construction equipment. A fee of $100 per week or for any portion of the week will be charged per spot, but contractors doing business for the city will be exempt. They will still be required to purchase a permit.

This portion of the ordinance was previously designated as “reserved.”

“I’ve only seen one vehicle there recently and you want five spaces,” Guinosso said, citing noise concerns that would come with multiple big vehicles in the area.

Chief Financial Officer Frank Donato explained that these vehicles have tended to show up in this area to get around the city’s parking laws. This ordinance would regulate parking in that area.