THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503030173
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES FRASCA, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
City Councilman Linwood O. Branch III says a petition signed by 170 resort businessmen has prompted the council to re-examine Oceanfront parking restrictions.
``The council recently voted to initiate a parking and transportation study in the upcoming budget,'' Branch said. ``We've already added 250 parking spaces with the new facility on 25th Street and another 150 spaces on 19th Street.
``This represents the first real parking expansion in quite some time. We're moving in the right direction, but these things don't happen overnight.''
The petition, circulated by business owner Rick Kowalewitch, called for an increase in ``lower profile'' police presence at the Oceanfront, increased Oceanfront parking, and elimination of road blockades. Kowalewitch also asked for the removal of the chief of police and the director of tourism.
``Street blockades effectively restrict vehicle access to many resort area businesses and have led to decreased revenues,'' Kowalewitch said. ``You can't make a living when they're barricading the streets. The City Council has no foresight. Half the year my road is torn up, and the other half it's closed.''
Kowalewitch, owner of R.K.'s Surf Shop on 17th Street, also asked for the removal of signs detailing local cruising laws.
Cruising ordinances adopted by the council in May 1992 make it illegal for drivers to pass the same traffic control point twice in the same direction within a three-hour period. The laws are in effect from April 15 through Sept. 30 between 2 p.m. and 4 a.m. and apply to the Oceanfront area between Rudee Inlet and 31st Street.
Additional laws passed by the City Council in 1992 allow police to erect metal barricades to control crowds and divert excess traffic away from the beach. Kowalewitch said he considers the ordinances to be unconstitutional.
``The American Civil Liberties Union has been notified,'' Kowalewitch said.
Resort Leadership Council chairman Rick Anoia said he ``is aware of complaints made by Kowalewitch.''
``He brought these issues out at a recent meeting,'' Anoia said. ``It was a good, frank discussion, but he didn't appear to have any support.''
Virginia Beach Restaurant Association chairman Bill Dylan said, ``Our group supports Rick Kowalewitch's position in regard to opening up all of the resort area streets to traffic.''
Dylan, owner of Abbey Road Restaurant on 22nd Street, said his establishment ``has unquestionably suffered a decline in revenue since the barricades went up in 1992.'' And while his restaurant offers off-street parking for diners, Dylan says, ``It's always empty because they can't get to it when the barricades go up.''
Jack Ferrebee, attorney for Kowalewitch, said the City Council ``appears interested in exploring alternatives.''
Ferrebee added that there has been no request for a referendum, ``although that's certainly a possibility.''
``My representation isn't in terms of having anyone removed from office,'' Ferrebee said. ``We'd like them to lift certain restrictions such as street barricades in order to make the atmosphere a little more congenial. When all those streets have barricades with police standing behind them, it doesn't present tourists with a very friendly impression.''
Resort Area Advisory Commission chairman Roger Newell said he is also looking into complaints in Kowalewitch's petition. ``We're doing some research, trying to look at restaurant and retail revenues in the resort area and comparing them to the city as a whole,'' Newell said. by CNB