Dozens Debate Possible Pier Parking Structure

Underground parking structures, new meters and raising some parking fees were on the table Tuesday night as the San Clemente City Council discussed parking in the

Council members asked city staffers to come up with a series of options to free up more parking spaces in the Pier Bowl and improve circulation along the often-congested Avenida Victoria that runs parallel to the coast.

San Clemente Associate Planner Cliff Jones said there are 266 spaces in the pier area: 144 in the upper and lower lots and 122 on-street spaces. There are also 129 metered spaces on Linda Lane.

Jones said signs pointing motorists to the Linda Lane spaces and pedestrian lighting along the Beach Trail slated for fall installation would help the problem.

Jones also pointed to a hypothetical plan for underground parking that had been drawn up years ago before Park Semper Fi was built.

The lot, which would be four levels, would follow the slope of the land and preserve the current views, Jones said. There were no exact figures for how much money it would cost for the parking garage, but it would be around $10 million for construction.

Many residents were adamantly against adding a parking garage, and many were against adding parking meters in the residential areas.

“They did not work, and they will not work now,” said resident Gary Button. “You cannot invite your guests to come over.”

One resident pointed out that the parking was underused for most of the year when the seasonal crowds were out in force—averaging 2.5 million per summer as of 2010.

“It’s only 20 to 30 days a year when this is a problem,” said resident Eddie Secaro.

Other residents were in favor of a parking garage.

“There are a lot of people who enjoy this place, and not all of them are citizens [of San Clemente], but there are a lot of citizens who can’t find a place to park,” said resident Harry Oxley.

The business faction in the Pier Bowl favored additional parking.

Rick Anderson, the head of the Pier Bowl Merchants Association, referred to the

“If we’re going to put this much money and effort to add beach, we need to commit to parking,” he said.

of also said he was in favor of the parking garage.

The council, after hearing from 18 speakers and 60 email writers, pretty much scrapped the idea of putting parking meters on residential streets. The council members expressed some support for a shuttle from a remote lot and directing motorists to Linda Lane. Council members seemed hesitant to support a parking garage, but no firm decisions on the issue came out of the Tuesday meeting.

The council directed the staff to come back with further study of the Linda Lane spaces, remote beach shuttle options and changes in parking fee rates close to the beach to encourage people to park in cheaper places farther away.