FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — A group of residents and business owners in Fernandina Beach are opposing a city proposal that may soon necessitate paid parking in the historic downtown area.

City commissioners are considering a plan that would convert about 660 downtown spaces, including 90 in lots A and B, into paid “premium” spots.

The city projects that this plan could bring in as much as $2 million each year, featuring a suggested $100 annual permit for residents and a $1 per hour charge for visitors.

According to city officials, the intention is to transfer the financial responsibility of downtown upkeep and enhancements from the local taxpayers to the over 1.3 million visitors each year.

“What we are proposing to do here is to generate some dollars for the community to fix this without putting it on the backs of the 8,000 people who pay taxes here,” said County Commissioner Tim Poynter during an April workshop. “The 1.3 million people that show up here to use our downtown and use the parking spaces, they are not paying any of it.”

The proposal is drawing sharp criticism from many residents and business owners. Marisol Triana, who owns two downtown businesses, started a petition that has collected more than 4,000 signatures in just four days.

“We have a lot of sandwich shops,” Triana said. “I have a coffee shop. I don’t see how people are going to want to just rush downtown to grab a coffee and have to pay for parking on top of that. People have a right to weigh in on this issue, and it just feels like it’s going very quickly.”

Longtime resident Marian Phillips worries the plan could hurt the local economy.

“They had paid parking years ago in the 70s,” Phillips said. “It didn’t work. It hurt the businesses. If you walk downtown, you can look on the sidewalk and you’ll see metal pieces where they cut the poles off. It did not work and it’s not going to work now.”

Others, like resident Paul Lore, fear the city is losing its small-town charm.

“Having paid parking just changes everything,” Lore said. “It just changes the fabric of a community, and we don’t need it, not here.”

Many are calling for the decision to be put to a public vote.

“Let us vote, put it to a referendum, and if the residents say they want it, the people have spoken and you can’t argue with that,” Triana said.

A town hall meeting is scheduled for June 24 at 5 p.m. at City Hall, where residents can voice their opinions. The city commission is expected to vote on the proposal July 15.