Charlotte County is gearing up for a joint meeting with Lee County to tackle the ongoing parking situation on Gasparilla Island. After arbitration failed to get anywhere, both commissions now must face each other directly.
At the last Charlotte County Commission meeting, everyone took a hard look at what happened when Chair Joe Tiseo sat down with Lee County’s Kevin Ruane. Tiseo asked Ruane to hit pause on Lee County’s new parking rules, which restrict when and where people can park around Boca Grande’s beaches. Ruane didn’t budge.
Tiseo pointed out how Charlotte County residents, who regularly visit those beaches and local businesses, are feeling the squeeze from these new restrictions. It’s complicated. Gasparilla Island straddles both counties, but Boca Grande’s beaches and downtown fall under Lee County.
Ruane pinned the blame on Charlotte County’s projected growth, throwing out the figure, 60,000 new residents as a justification for the parking crackdown. He made it clear he wasn’t there to work on solutions. At one point, when the audience groaned after Ruane claimed island residents crafted the ordinance, he asked Tiseo to calm the crowd…