Carmel businesses concerned parking meters will drive customers away

It’s the first weekend shoppers have to pay for parking in downtown Carmel. On Tuesday, 10 parking meters were activated along Ocean Avenue.

Monterey County resident Val Adauto stopped off in Carmel Saturday to pick up a gift for her daughter. But when she pulled into a parking space on Ocean Avenue, she didn’t expect to pull out her credit card so soon.

“It makes me feel like I don’t want to come back here anymore and do any shopping at this plaza at all,” said Adauto.

And that’s exactly what many businesses here in Carmel are worried about. Sheree Smith runs this little boutique on Ocean Avenue and worries the 10 parking meters that line Ocean from Junipero Avenue to Monte Verde Street could be taking away from her business.

“People have gone to come up and they notice these and then they pull away. I mean we watch it time and time again,” said Smith.

But city leaders said the new parking meters will give customers more time to shop. Before, people could only park two hours at a time. Now shoppers have the option to park for four hours, at $2 an hour, or find an unmetered spot off Ocean Avenue.

Currently, the meters are part of a six-month long trial period. If shoppers have a problem operating the meters, they can call Carmel Police and an officer or parking attendant will show up to help.