WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — More parking could be on the way to a New Hanover County beach town, but coming with or without the new lot are four electric vehicle charging stations.
The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen approved the E.V. spaces, which will be installed by Duke Energy at no cost to the town on Dec. 12.
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Town staff identified three locations for the spaces, including a proposed parking lot near Wrightsville Beach Town Hall and police department. Town manager Tim Owens said the lot is in the design phase to be bid out to contractors and approved by aldermen.
The lot is located on empty land situated between Bob Sawyer, Russ and Gene Floyd drives. The site would be paved over to accommodate almost 50 more parking spaces added to the town’s parking program operated by Pivot Parking. Drivers would need to pay the $5 per hour or $25 per day to use the lot.
The two existing oak trees on site will be preserved.
To accommodate four E.V. spots, Duke Energy will have to bury a line underneath the pavement, connecting a nearby transformer to the charging stations.
Aldermen Hank Miller questioned if the charging station would be “universal” for any electric vehicle.
“It would be universal except to Tesla, but any Tesla people have the adapter to convert,” Aldermen Ken Dull, who brought the idea to the board last month, said.
Before the aldermen on Monday night, Owens said this spot for the E.V. stations was preferred by town staff. However, town attorney Brian Edes told aldermen the contract with Duke Energy allows the company to pick the site.
The town proposed two other locations for the chargers. The town could convert two regular spaces adjacent to the Old Fire Station off Municipal Lane. Two or four spaces could be accommodated in the Farmer’s Market field, also located off Municipal Lane.
The Duke contract, passed unanimously by the aldermen, will last five years. After that, the town will have the option to return the chargers to the company or purchase them at a lower cost. Until then, the town will be responsible for maintaining the site and notifying Duke if there are any issues or damage to the equipment.
Earlier in the meeting, the board directed town staff to pursue a grant through the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. One thing it could fund is the reconfiguration of the parking lot at Wrightsville Beach Park. The redesign would allow for 23 more spaces.
In an effort to improve alternative transportation methods to get around town, the board also discussed its bike and pedestrian plan.
Wrightsville Beach received a 40,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation — with a 10% match by Wrightsville Beach — to fund the plan in August. The town hired Kimley Horn to complete the 13-month development process to be guided by a steering committee, yet to be appointed by the aldermen. The board could select individual members or charge the parks and recreation committee to steer the plans.
Appointing members was on the agenda, yet Mayor Darryl Mills stalled the process.
“Let me suggest that everyone on the board give that some consideration before we meet again,” he said. “It would be premature to make that decision.”
Town staff will broach the issue in the new year. Once the members are chosen, the steering committee will meet with Kimley Horn to establish five priority projects. Also planned are two community events to garner feedback on the plan and an online survey for town residents.
Wrightsville Beach has demonstrated support for other standalone bike and pedestrian projects this year, including a grant approved at the same meeting. It will continue a multi-use path from the Wrightsville Beach Museum to the recently built tennis and pickleball courts connecting Salisbury Street and Causeway Drive.
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The project would be paid for by the same PARTF grant covering the parking reconfiguration at Wrightsville Beach Park. Town staff will return at the January board of aldermen meeting to present detailed cost estimates.
Reach journalist Brenna Flanagan at brenna@localdailymedia.com
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