Lally backs valet effort in Village

Chris Brown is fighting to resolve the parking quagmire that has plagued Siesta Key Village. But, some say his decision four years ago to offer valet parking to customers at his Village restaurants clogs scarce Siesta roads and diverts profit from public infrastructure.

Joe Volpe, member of the Siesta Key Association board of directors and chairman of the Publicity Committee, questioned the legality of the valet practice in an April email to Sarasota County commissioners. During the June 7 monthly SKA meeting, he brought up the issue, as well.

Brown pays the valet company for the signage, an umbrella and cones, and the valet parkers work for tips. In addition to the cost of valet parking, Brown has to lease the valet parking spaces in front of the Broken Egg.
Siesta Key code-enforcement officer John Lally said: “They can stack them (cars) in there. Sometimes at the Broken Egg they can get 18 or 20 spaces in a space where there are normally only two or three.”

“There (was) not really anything being done to create more parking or relieve the situation,” Lally said.

“It was a disaster before I started valet,” Brown said. Because the cars parked in valet spaces are monitored, it makes people who want to visit the Village feel safer, Brown said. “Overall, it gives a feeling of control.”

Also, because valet eyes are on cars of those who use their service, pizza boxes and beer bottles are less common near the valet station at the intersection of Canal Road and Columbus Boulevard.

However, at the June 7 meeting, Volpe, one of the organization’s directors, said his concern was that valet parking amplifies traffic.

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies have been citing cabs in Siesta Key Village for stopping to load or unload customers in the right of way, which is a necessity for valet parkers to do during busy hours.

Lally said this doesn’t apply to valet parking, however.

“The way the ordinance is written, it allows (valet parking employees) to queue in the right of way,” Lally said.

“Any time you become a destination, there are going to be legitimate traffic concerns,” Brown said. “You just have to manage them the best that you can.”

“We’ve got people coming out here all the time and the beach parking overflow has them parking in people’s lawns,” Lally explained. “It’s good to see someone trying to make a difference.”