Does Marco Island have a Parking Problem? YES!!

The City Council has revised its Restaurant parking Ordinance several times over the years, especially for free standing restaurants. It started out as one (1) parking space per two (2) seats, one (1) parking space per three (3) seats, to one (1) parking space per four (4) seats, never requiring restaurants to increase their parking spaces. In 2010 the then City Council increased the parking requirement to one parking space per 200 square feet of restaurant seating area, indoor and outdoor. According to the Request for Council Consideration, Meeting Date: March 1, 2010, Ordinance - First Reading that resulted in a 42% decrease in required parking spaces. This would be the equivalent to one (1) parking space per seven seats. That ultimately made the parking problem immensely problematic. Here again no requirement for these restaurants to increase their parking space requirement. Also, the Code of Ordinances does not provide any parking space requirement for employees. So, who created the parking problem? CITY COUNCIL!!

In 2014 the then City Council changed the Ordinance to one (1) parking space per four (4) seats. All restaurants prior to 2014 are grandfather in and it only applies to new and/or expansion of current restaurants. 

There are other stipulations in the code that contribute to the parking problem. Namely, a parking space credit for a Recycle Bin, Bike Rack, and Painted Walkway from Sidewalk to Front Door and if you have a contiguous parking agreement you receive a 15% credit for parking space requirement.

Predominantly, the free-standing restaurants got what they wanted and since then, they have been pleading with the City to provide parking spaces (assets) at taxpayer’s expense to operate their businesses. 

No matter how many parking spaces are provided in swales or alleys, it will never be enough to solve the parking problem in Olde Marco or Collier Boulevard.

Respectfully submitted,