County leaders meet over Boca Grande parking but leave without solution

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Lee and Charlotte county leaders met to discuss parking issues on Boca Grande, but left without reaching a resolution on Monday.

• RELATED: Boca Grande parking saga continues as county commissioners prepare to meet again

Leaders sat down face-to-face, agreeing it's a growing problem but remained divided on how to fix it. This meeting was noticeably more positive than the one in January, with both sides discussing possible solutions, including ADA access and future parking options.

But even with that progress, they're still far from a final agreement. The meeting focused on how the Boca Grande parking ordinance is affecting beach access.

Some officials say the changes were years in the making and designed to address safety and overcrowding. But other leaders and community members say the impact is already being felt.

"There should have been a compromise from the very beginning," said Robin Wilkins, Open Shores of Southwest Florida representative. "They probably wouldn't be facing what they're facing today, and the businesses would certainly not be struggling as much had a compromise been done right from the beginning."

Both counties say the issue will return to their boards in the coming weeks. If no agreement is reached, the dispute could move toward mediation.