Venice proposes 90–100 new Brohard Beach parking spaces along Harbor Drive to relieve seasonal demand

City of Venice staff told the joint meeting May 16 they will seek county permission to expand an existing right‑of‑way beach parking installation near Brohard Beach and North Pearl Harbor Park, adding about 90–100 spaces by extending the current design 500 feet to the north and south along Harbor Drive.

"It will not add 90,000 new beach parking spaces. It's supposed to be 90 to 100 new spaces," Ashley Castle, assistant director of Public Works for Venice, said, correcting an on‑screen formatting error and describing the concept as a mirror of the 2014 installation that has performed well.

Staff said the existing design has provided safe, low‑maintenance parking for more than a decade and prevents vehicles from backing into the roadway. The proposed expansion would include concrete driveways, traffic control devices, pedestrian crosswalks and landscaping; the city said it would assume responsibility for installation and ongoing maintenance and would apply for a county right‑of‑way use permit.

Officials told commissioners and council members that funding is in place to begin design and permitting and that federal aviation (FAA) requirements had been met previously for the mirrored design. Staff also said landscape plantings will be drought tolerant and typically require no permanent irrigation; prior plantings were damaged during recent storm surge events.

Panelists acknowledged the project would not satisfy all beach parking demand and said the city will continue to coordinate with county restoration plans for Caspersen Beach, whose temporary closure earlier in the season has increased parking pressure. City staff noted a golf course lease on nearby airport property will come up for renewal in about three years and could present another opportunity for parking solutions.

Council and commission members voiced support for the concept and asked about longer‑term strategies; staff said additional options are limited because surrounding land is developed or environmentally sensitive, but the city will stay engaged on Caspersen restoration and other opportunities.

No formal county action was requested at the meeting; staff sought conceptual support and permission to proceed with design, permitting and the county right‑of‑way review process.