Nights of Lights latest parking plan raises concerns for business owners as city aims to ease congestion

A parking plan meant to ease congestion during St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights is now putting local businesses on edge.Owners along Anastasia Boulevard say expanded restrictions and increased parking fines could leave employees struggling to get to work and drive customers away during one of the busiest times of year.What the city approvedAs downtown St. Augustine prepares for the holiday season, the city approved a new parking plan nearly two weeks ago, limiting parking in designated areas near North and South Davis Shores to residents only, as officials look to prevent traffic congestion during Nights of Lights.Drivers who ignore the restrictions could face a $100 fine.But business owners argue the plan eliminates accessible street parking along the northern stretch of Anastasia Boulevard, an area many Nights of Lights visitors and restaurant regulars depend on.“I would say that easily 80 percent of our regulars that are from St. Augustine don’t live in this neighborhood, so they ab