Hull Select Board Reduces Surfside Parking Limits Amid Business Owner Complaints
Board votes to cut maximum parking time from four hours to two hours after local merchants report beachgoers monopolizing customer spaces throughout the day.
HULL - July 23 - The Hull Select Board voted unanimously July 23 to reduce parking time limits in the town's Surfside business district from four hours to one hour renewable for a maximum of two hours, responding to complaints from local business owners who say beachgoers are monopolizing spaces intended for customers.
The change affects the area around Red Parrot and other Surfside establishments, where business owners reported seeing people pay $4 for four-hour parking and head to the beach for the day.
"There is nowhere to park," said Casey Mahoney, owner of Crave at 303 Nantasket Ave. "They're unloading their beach chairs and they're gone for the day, and my customers are having a big issue with this."
A business owner, who has operated at 283 Nantasket Ave. for 42 years, told the board the four-hour limit was hurting local merchants.
"I cannot have somebody in front of my shop for four hours to go to the beach," he said. "When you're ready to ask for their votes, you're there. So something needs to be done."
The board also authorized police to determine locations and quantities for 15-minute parking spaces to accommodate quick-service businesses like Mahoney's smoothie shop.
Town Manager Jennifer Constable explained the original four-hour limit was implemented because of concerns that two hours might not provide enough time for restaurant customers who faced waits. However, she noted that parking meters shut off at 6 p.m., making afternoon time limits less problematic.
"Some of the businesses and or residents are reporting that they see people paying to park $4 for the four hours and heading to the beach," Constable said.
The new regulations make Surfside consistent with other Hull business districts, where two-hour maximums already exist. The change can be implemented quickly through the town's parking app system.
Business owners also raised concerns about customer awareness of parking regulations. Hull residents receive 30 minutes of free parking in the Kenberma district with a resident sticker, but many don't know about the benefit.
"I've been telling customers, go to Kenberma. You want to go and drop off a screen. You want to get a coffee from Casey. But how can you get a coffee from Casey if she has no [parking]," someone said.
Constable said the town is working to update both the police website and town website with improved parking information and will coordinate with the Chamber of Commerce to help businesses inform customers about the parking app and free resident benefits.
The board also addressed concerns about the Hull Redevelopment Authority's Triangle Lot, which some business owners said was previously reserved for residents with stickers but now operates as paid public parking.
"We get a large customer base that are residents, and now they're complaining they don't have access to parking," said one business owner, noting the change has affected both local and out-of-town customers.
Select Board member Jerry Taverna, who serves as liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals, praised the quick response to business concerns during the summer season.
"This is a way we can help them," Taverna said. "The summertime, the population increase is really pretty incredible in the summertime here."
The parking discussion consumed significant time as board members and business owners debated broader parking policy issues. Select Board member Brian McCarthy attempted to make a motion requiring anyone who pays excise tax in Hull to be eligible for a free resident parking sticker, but withdrew the motion for future consideration.
"If you pay an excise tax in this town, you are eligible for a free sticker," McCarthy said, arguing the change would ease problems for businesses and residents who don't currently have stickers because they park in driveways.
The board agreed to schedule a comprehensive parking discussion for an upcoming meeting to address systemwide concerns.