CAPE CHARLES PLANNING COMMISSION: Looks at Reverse-Angle Parking on Bay Avenue

Data collected over the last two summers indicates that while numbers are trending slightly upward, the overall parking situation on Bay Avenue during the summer months is still manageable. Sunny Saturday afternoons produce the highest volume, yet during the week, there is more than ample parking available. Despite this data, Planning Commissioner Andy Buchholz is still in favor of reverse-angle parking for Bay Avenue. Buchholz commented that the concern should be for tourists, and folks that visit the beach in the summer, which include what he termed ‘weekend warriors’, locals that come to Cape Charles to access the region’s only free public beach.

The Commission, still gun shy from the implementation of reverse-angle parking on Mason Avenue, appears to be approaching Bay Avenue with caution. “When we did this on Mason, VDOT said we had to use reverse-angle parking. After there were so many complaints, they changed their story, and made us look like a bunch of jackasses,” Buchholz said.

The remaining members tended to reject the need to implement a reverse-angle scheme at this time. Commissioner Strubb rejected the notion outright. “I’m all in favor of doing something if it’s demonstrated that it’s needed, but I’ve been down there, and it’s generally much better than I anticipated. I don’t see the need to do anything right now.”

Commissioner Burke noted that while golf carts are becoming increasingly more popular, vehicles with large boat trailers are beginning to pose a problem, taking up inordinate amount of space on days when parking is at a premium. “There’s nothing we can do about that,” Buchholz said. “Remember, we tried that a few years ago…it’s a VDOT thing.”

While the consensus was to take a wait and see approach on reverse-angle parking, the Commission did vote to move forward on obtaining permits to paint crosswalks at other locations on Bay Avenue. Presently, there is only one crosswalk located at Mason and Bay.