Empire to charge for beach parking in 2014
Photo by Peter Payette, Interlochen Public Radio
By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor
The Empire Village Council last night upheld its initiative to charge visitors who want to park at the town’s prized Lake Michigan beach this summer.
Anyone parking at one of the beach’s 87 spots, who doesn’t live in Empire Village or Empire Township, will pay $1 per hour at one, centrally located machine that accepts credit cards.
Earlier this spring, the Council voted 4-3 in favor of charging for parking during a 90-day trial period this summer. Impassioned citizen-led petition drives both against the measure, and in favor of it, failed to change any minds.
With the summer season just around the corner, a last-minute push by Village Council President Sue Carpenter to rescind the vote also came up short.
Those who favor the measure say the Village needs more revenues to maintain the beach and employ a parking officer who ensures that roads remain open to emergency vehicles.
“Many in the village support it, and for a variety of reasons,” says resident Chris Nelson. “For some it’s financial, for some it’s philosophical; they think the people who use the beach should help pay for it, as we pay for it through our taxes. … This allows people to get what they pay for instead of a flat rate.”
Only citizens who live in the Village actually pay taxes to maintain the beach.
Those opposed say they fear the message that Empire would allegedly send to visitors. They worry that tourists will overburden parking spaces in the village’s business district or stay away altogether.
Some business owners worry that an unwelcome message would negatively impact their bottom line.
“I’m concerned about my business,” says Frank Lerchen, who owns three Empire businesses — the Friendly Tavern, the Village Inn and Gemma’s coffee shop. “I’m concerned that people in our neighboring communities (Frankfort, Maple City, Cedar) are going to go somewhere else. I’m concerned that the limited parking I have in front of the Friendly will be filled with beach-goers. I’m concerned about loss of income.”
The pay-to-park policy is relatively unprecedented in Leelanau County. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore charges $10 per week (or $20 per annual pass), per vehicle, to access such beaches as North Bar or Esch Road. But no other village in the county charges for parking.
