By Carol Britton Meyer

In a 3-2 vote Wednesday night, the select board agreed to increase the number of parking spaces on the Hull Redevelopment Authority property from the current 500 to a maximum of 900 for the 2024 season.

The original number of seasonal parking spots was 900, which was reduced in 2020 during the COVID19 pandemic, increased to 600 in 2021, and reduced again in 2023 to 500. The season runs from May 1 through September 30.

This agenda item was addressed at the request of the HRA in order to discuss parking capacity and operations for the upcoming season. The discussion lasted for more than 1-1/2 hours.

Part of the conversation centered on the possibility of getting the Department of Conservation & Recreation to share the cost of police details at Phipps Street – where traffic congestion often occurs as cars leave the beach – using funds from trust fund monies that come from beach parking fees.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable said this issue can be addressed at an upcoming meeting between the town and the DCR as part of a new collaborative effort.

Beyond the 900 spaces that the HRA normally licenses to vendors, there are additional parking spots for residents who hold valid parking permits.

Another possibility the HRA is considering, according to member Dennis Zaia, is to change the operation to an automated platform through which beachgoers can prepay the parking fee through an app and also learn where parking is available.

Before the vote, HRA member Adrienne Paquin supported maintaining the 500 spaces in order to encourage people to find other ways to get to the beach rather than by car.

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