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Watson Island parking additions studied

With more people expected to make Watson Island a destination, the Miami Parking Authority is looking at the parking needs for all of those visitors.

The authority, doing business as the city’s Off-Street Parking Board, oversees two existing surface parking lots on the city-owned island between Miami Beach and the mainland.

At its March meeting the parking board approved spending up to $50,000 for a parking study on Watson Island.

Four shareholders on the island chipped in to help fund half the cost of the study, according to Rolando G. Tapanes, director of planning and development for the authority.

The authority has had discussions with the stakeholders on the island in regard to parking over the past two years, he said.

With all the recent activity on the island, staff determined it was time to move so “our position” is in the forefront of meeting parking needs on the developing island, Mr. Tapanes told the board.

He said the authority received a cost estimate for a full parking study and sought financial contributions from the main users on the island to pay for half of the study. The authority will pay up to $25,000, he said.

Mr. Tapanes said the parking agency has received commitments from four stakeholders to help fund the study.

The Flagstone group, developer of the large mixed-use residential, retail and marina project Island Gardens, has promised to contribute $15,000, he said. The seaplane operator will pay $5,000. The heliport operator will pay $2,500. And Jungle Island rounds up the tally with $2,500, Mr. Tapanes said.

The study will examine current parking usage on the island and anticipated future needs.

“There’s a lot of activity on that little island,” said Mr. Tapanes. “The time is right for a robust study, to be prepared to meet all those needs.”

Mr. Tapanes told the board the authority wants an independent, professional and substantive parking study of the island, so the agency can share it with the stakeholders and show them “this is your true need.”

Parking exists on the island now but it’s a mess.

“There are literally cars parked everywhere,” said authority CEO Art Noriega.

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http://www.miamitodaynews.com/2016/03/08/watson-island-parking-additions-studied/