Merchants hold impromtu meetup on parking

A dozen local retailers and officials came to a meeting to discuss possible parking restrictions in Boca Grande on Monday, July 8 at the Boca Grande Community Center. 

There was some confusion as to whether there was a “meeting” at all. 

The original meeting had been called by Sue Sligar, of Gilchrist Interiors. She had requested, through the encouragement of resident Hugh Sullivan, that Lee County Board of County Commissioners Vice Chair Kevin Ruane come to Boca Grande to talk to merchants. Unfortunately, Ruane had a family emergency, and could not be there. Sligar contacted her RSVP list, but not all got the message, as it was a holiday weekend. In addition, some of the retailers, and this reporter, decided to come in case there were those who had not gotten the word.  

“I am just trying to be a facilitator,” said Sligar, who decided to come as she had heard last minute that some might be there.

A number of issues were discussed, and none solved. All agreed they wanted to hear from Ruane. There were also hopes of hearing about the full plan while residents and all businesses were actually here. This referred to the ask of Larry Hannah of Lighthouse United Methodist Church to have Lee County Commissioners actually visit in November.

Staff parking, especially during the upcoming construction projects of the Boca Grande Health Clinic and Boca Grande Community Center, was a question. 

Another issue was worry about the removal of diagonal parking, with the possibility of restricting those to smaller cars and golf carts instead.

“Every parking place that we currently have is extremely valuable,” said Capt. Sandy Melvin, of Gasparilla Outfitters.

Another concern was the large number of spaces in town offered free by the Gasparilla Conservation and Improvement Association, which would not be part of any plan from Lee County, but are vital to businesses.

“A great amount of parking in Boca Grande is private parking,” said Melvin.