IslandVibesIOP.com 5 NEWS F I Marina parking restructure aims to balance city, restaurant needs By L. C. Leach III About the Cover By Laura Fogarty n an effort to improve parking arrangements at the Isle of Palms Marina for at least the summer season, the IOP City Council voted 6-1 at its May meeting to approve a new temporary parking measure. The measure, in effect through Oct. 1, is intended to secure and designate resident-only boat trailer parking spaces in the lot shared by IOP City and Islander 71. “This essentially restructures the shared lot and moves the trailer parking spaces from where they are in the middle of the lot,” said city administrator Desiree Fragoso. “The restaurant would have exclusive use of 20 spaces and the city would keep the 16 exclusive resident parking spaces currently there now. The remaining spaces would be shared among the restaurant and the city.” During the temporary arrangement, agreed upon by the city and Islander 71 in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), there will be no reduction in parking spaces for the public. Other rules that apply include: • Island residents will still park in the area for free. • Non-residents would pay a $10 flat rate fee to park in this area. • Marker 116 LLC, which owns and operates Islander 71, will be responsible for managing the Marker 116 exclusive parking area during the term of this agreement. • The city will be responsible for managing the city exclusive parking area during the term of this agreement. • No overnight parking will be permitted in the remaining non-exclusive portions of the shared lot. Overnight means any vehicle or trailer left in the shared lot past midnight. “This temporary MOU would establish that the trailer parking spaces that would be moved would be exclusive to Isle of Palms residents with a valid decal for their truck and trailer,” Fragoso said. “Right now there are about 11 of these trailer parking spaces and not all of them are easy to access with a truck and trailer. Maneuverability around them is challenging.” The MOU is the latest agreement between the city and Islander 71, now in its second year of operation. In 2022, the city council approved a lease with the IOP Families Group – Marker 116 LLC – for the operation of the restaurant. IOP Marina is situated on the Intracoastal Waterway and is considered to have one of the best views of any public eating place in the Lowcountry. The site also includes a boat club, boat rentals and charters, a dedicated dock space for about 50 boats, The Outpost store and deli and the Marina Market. “We’ve already identified a few things in the code that may need a little bit of clarification,” Fragoso said. “Rather than do it piecemeal, we can have that conversation in September and bring it all to council at the same time.” At the end of the temporary parking arrangement, council has the option to amend the current ordinance for parking and fees or to review ordinance measures with a new contractor for clarification and make changes as necessary. Photo by Rachel Basye, Cooper River Photography or this month’s cover photoshoot of Island Vibes, we found ourselves on the docks in front of Islander 71 on Morgan Creek overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Siblings John David (8), Elliott (6), Eva (3) and all 135 pounds of their Great Dane, Lilly, were sweet and cheerfully cooperative models. John David was protective of his younger sisters while posing on the dock, and Lilly was eager to participate as long as she knew exactly where her mom and the doughnuts were at all times! Affectionately called “firecrackers” by their family, Eva and Elliott brought the perfect mix of bright and sassy to this breezy morning photo session coordinated by firsttime cover photographer Rachel Basye of Cooper River Photography. Basye specializes in portraits, real estate and landscape photography and has participated in many local festivals and markets around Charleston, including the Isle of Palms Farmer’s Market during the summer. Her website is cooperriverphotography.com and she can also be found on Instagram @cooperriverphotography. Basye brought a light and expert touch to our memorable session during which we were lucky enough to see some dolphins amongst the pelicans before a pop-up thunderstorm drenched the marina. Eva, Elliott and John David are looking forward to another Fourth of July on the island complete with fireworks, friends, the beach and, of course, what they call the “IOP golf cart parade water fight.” What a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday — as an island child, creating lasting memories while riding bikes to the rec center, twirling sparklers, watching fireworks on the beach, eating Bomb Pops on the dock and watching the sun sink down into the water. For the older islanders among us, the Fourth seems to evoke a sense of nostalgia for our own childhood memories on the water and beyond. Here’s to memories, both old and new. Here’s wishing you a safe, happy, healthy Fourth from all of us at Island Vibes and here’s to the Red, White and Blue! Island Vibes Brand Ambassador Sonya Buckhannon with John David, Elliott and Eva. Lilly and John David.
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