Paid Parking Petition Has Met Signature Goal, Organizers Say

OCEAN CITY – A petition opposing newly installed areas of paid parking around the resort has received sufficient numbers of signatures, according to organizers, but the effort will continue until this month’s deadline.

Last month the majority of the City Council voted to approve an ordinance that will enact new areas of paid parking to bring in additional revenue and help close a budget gap. Areas were chosen after city officials and staff met on several occasions studying potential locations. They included on the east side of the driveway in the Public Safety Parking Lot between 65th and 66thstreets, City Hall parking lot on the west side of Philadelphia Ave. between North Division and South First streets, 49th Street ocean block, 131st Street from Coastal Hwy. to Sinepuxent Ave. and 146th Street ocean block.

For months, the ordinance met opposition from Ocean Place Condominium owners on 146th Street as well as from the Crab Bag on 131st Street. Those in opposition came together with the recently organized group of Ocean City Taxpayers for Social Justice (OCTSJ) and began petition efforts to place the decision on a ballot to attempt to put a stop to the new meters.
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