Booming business in Bluffton's Old Town causing parking, traffic concerns
When neighborhoods develop, growing pains follow.
Along Bluffton Road in Old Town -- with the ever-expanding Promenade on one side of the street and popular establishments such as Peaceful Henry's and Fat Patties on the other -- that pain comes mostly in the form of parking and traffic headaches.
"We've been having more parking issues since Fat Patties opened (late last year)," Bluffton Police Department spokeswoman Joy Nelson said earlier this week. "It's a popular restaurant and there are a lot of people who want to park there."
The department has "been patrolling the area more heavily," Nelson said, and officers often spot drivers parked illegally in the area.
While Nelson didn't know exactly how many, she said a number of citations were issued near the popular party spots on Bluffton Road over the recent holiday weekend.
Fat Patties' owner Nick Borreggine said Tuesday that patrons often don't realize they are parking illegally since the striping and signage near the restaurant can be confusing or hard to see.
"It's unfortunate," he said. "But (because it is a state-owned road), that's a (S.C. Department of Transportation) issue, not a town issue."
The restaurant has 35 off-street spaces in its lot, and Borreggine said there are plans for a "redesign that will get us some more spaces." He did not provide a specific number.
The town also has several initiatives in the works to help ease Old Town parking woes, including implementing time limits on Calhoun Street and creating about 75 new spaces on Dr. Mellichamp Drive.
In addition to parking issues, several local residents and business owners expressed concern at a recent town council meeting about pedestrian safety on Bluffton Road.
"I've had four or five individuals calling me about the seriousness of people crossing over (Bluffton Road) to get to Fat Patties," Councilman Larry Toomer said at that meeting.
"Everybody loves the restaurant and (the owners) are great people," he said. "But I think a crosswalk has got to come quickly before something bad happens."
Deputy town manager Scott Marshall said Tuesday that "if there is a public safety concern, the town will actively address it."
SCDOT spokesman Pete Poore said that the state is "currently working with (town officials) to get a crosswalk installed" at the intersection of Bluffton Road and State of Mind Street.
But Poore could not say when the project would be complete.
Follow reporter Lucas High on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.
Related content:
- With no solution in sight, Old Town parking woes continue to annoy merchants, residents, Aug. 28, 2015
- Fahey: Fat Patties, Salt Marsh Brewing now open in Bluffton, Oct. 29, 2015
This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Booming business in Bluffton's Old Town causing parking, traffic concerns."