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The future of the three surface parking lots in the city’s waterfront redevelopment area should be determined by the next city council meeting on April 17, city manager Terence Reidy said at last night’s meeting.

“I don’t know what the exact final plan is going to be,” Reidy said, “but [it will incorporate] the type of flexibility the businesses have told us they need.”

The lots are owned by iStar Financial, majority owner of designated waterfront redeveloper Asbury Partners. Asbury Partners’ minority owner, boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette, has been using the lots for about five years.

The city must give approval for Madison Marquette to continue to use the lots, because surface parking is not a permitted use in the waterfront redevelopment area. The city gave Madison Marquette temporary approval in the past, but now wants to have more of a say in the control of the lots.

In the time since Madison Marquette began to use the lots, the city created a parking utility. They striped and numbered spaces in the waterfront area and the downtown, and they charge motorists $2 per hour to park on Ocean Avenue and $1 per hour to park elsewhere. Full-day parking is $10.

Parking in the surface lots usually costs $10 per day as well, with motorists paying attendants instead of using parking meters. In the off-season, there is no charge for parking in the lots. Madison Marquette also uses the lots for valet parking and special events.

Officials from Madison Marquette have said they wish to continue to operate the lots on their own terms. Reidy has said the city intends to find a way for the lots to be used for special events and valet parking when needed, in addition to paid parking.

The lots are located adjacent to the Carousel building at the end of Cookman Avenue; on Ocean Avenue between Second and Third avenues [pictured above]; and on Fourth Avenue next to the Wonder Bar. In total, they contain about 600 parking spaces.

CONCERNED BUSINESS OWNERS

Waterfront and boardwalk business owners attended last night’s council meeting to inquire about the future of the lots.

“For summer 2013, I believe that the Asbury Park boardwalk is going to be extremely busy,” said Samuel Chung, co-owner of Mogo, a Korean taco pop-up. “If Madison Marquette does not have control of the parking lots, I want to know what the city’s plan is and what they’re implementing. As a business owner, it’s important to all of us that people are able to find adequate parking and people are able to get to the beach.”

“Every street space is going to be open and every parking lot space is going to be open,” Reidy responded. “They’re all going to be accessible and use-able.”

Chung asked if the city intends to take over the rights to the parking lots and stripe and meter the spaces within.

The land itself is owned by iStar Financial, Reidy said, and the city is working with iStar now to find a solution. The city cannot implement metered parking without iStar’s consent. Madison Marquette has had input into the plan as well, he added.

“I’ll admit that maybe a year ago, my thinking was we should just put up meters and we’re done,” Reidy said. “But the need is for those lots to be more flexible [whether it be for] valet parking, groups, weddings, special events.”

The lots also will likely continue to be manned by attendants, he added.

The owners of boardwalk restaurants Stella Marina and Cubacan also said they’d like to see a resolution on the parking issue soon, as the safety of their employees depends on parking.

DEVELOPER NEGOTIATIONS

Representatives from Madison Marquette and iStar Financial have confirmed that negotiations are ongoing. The city and iStar have been meeting to negotiate, with iStar receiving input from Madison Marquette on the boardwalk redeveloper’s position.

“We are confident that the parking issue is going to be resolved very shortly in a way that is fair to everyone,” said iStar’s vice president of land, Brian Cheripka.

Madison Marquette president Gary Mottola said recently that without the surface parking lots, his company may be forced to considerably reduce its redevelopment efforts on the boardwalk. Executive vice president Anselm Fusco expressed uncertainty after last night’s meeting.

“It’s not clear how much progress we’re making, but conversations are ongoing,” Fusco said on the parking negotiations. “I personally remain hopeful that we’re going to find a way through this.”

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