Cars park on Centre Street, the historic main artery of Fernandina Beach. | News4Jax
Published on October 22, 2025 at 11:39 am
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Despite strong pushback from residents, paid parking in Fernandina Beach is headed to the ballot.
During a meeting Tuesday night, city commissioners rejected an ordinance that aimed to ban the parking fees, even though it was brought to them through a petition signed by more than 1,700 people.
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“You have the ability to accept the petition that several of us worked so incredibly hard on and allow the residents of this city to have their say on paid parking,” a resident said during the meeting.
The ordinance did not pass, which means the paid parking plan will move forward, and the paid parking ordinance will be placed on the 2026 General Election ballot.
The parking debate
The paid parking plan would charge for “premier” parking spots — bordered by Ash and Alachua Streets, stretching from Front Street to Eighth Street.
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On one end, city leaders say it’ll be beneficial for the city, but many business owners along this strip have been pushing back against the proposal for months, saying it’ll take away the city’s charm.
“I am very against it. I think it’s a very bad idea,” Kimberly Aspinwall, owner of Amelia Linen and Wood, said. “For one, this is a very quaint small town that is extremely welcoming to everybody that comes here, and it is why everyone falls in love with it. And it’s going to take away that intimate charm that we have in our town.”
City leaders say adding paid parking could generate around $2 million in revenue — money they say would help fund several major infrastructure projects, including:
- A new seawall — estimated at $20 to $25 million
- Demolishing Brett’s Waterway Café and reconnecting docks — $5 to $7 million
- Rebuilding aging downtown infrastructure — $10 to $15 million
Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue had made a motion to have a special election in order for voters to decide the issue before signing any management contracts to implement the paid parking program. However, that motion died on the floor for a lack of a second.
“Let them vote. Let the people vote. Let them have their vote,” Ayscue said.
This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
