By Carol Britton Meyer

Following the Hull Redevelopment Authority’s recent awarding of the contract to manage its 900-vehicle beach parking lots this summer to LAZ Parking, the select board this week supported that action.

The Drift will take the place of RED SKY at Steamboat Wharf this season.

The lot will operate from May 1 to Sept. 30, including the triangle parking area, and parkers will pay a $20 flat parking fee, payable by credit card only, as no cash will be accepted. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Laz Parking Director of Business Development Patrick Ford explained the payment process involving handheld credit card readers that scan a ticket to be displayed on the dashboard once the fee is paid. Flaggers will point drivers in the direction of available parking.

LAZ will pay $160,000 to operate the lots between Nantasket Avenue and Hull Shore Drive, with 50/50 revenue-sharing once LAZ reaches $450,000 in profits.

The company operates more than 1.2 million parking spaces in more than 3,000 locations and 400 cities across the country, including a number of beach lots in Rhode Island.

LAZ will work with the Hull Police Department to help alleviate any traffic issues on busy days and outlined plans to post signage before beachgoers reach the parking lots when they are full, to avoid traffic congestion and circling around looking for other places to park, and to socialize the cashless payment system in the local and surrounding area.

“We will do strategic marketing blasts throughout the Greater Boston area to get the word out,” Ford said.

For those still wishing to go to the beach during inclement weather, there will be a scan-to-pay option.

Police details will be present every Saturday and Sunday and on additional days based on the police department’s judgment.

Ford also said LAZ Parking is interested in hiring locally, including working with the schools, to fill parking attendant positions.

“That’s our ultimate goal,” he said.

In other business…

• The select board approved a request by Justin Gould and Andrew Spinale of Steamboat Wharf, LLC, to sublet the restaurant space in the marina building at 48 George Washington Blvd., where Red Sky has operated for a number of years, to David Peters of Steamboat Provisions LLC –under the new restaurant name, The Drift.

Peters has 17 years of experience in the restaurant business, starting as a dishwasher, moving up in the profession from there, and attending culinary school. He and his business partner are experienced in restaurant management.

“We love Hull and providing good food, drinks, and a good time for residents and businesses.” Peters said.

There are just a few changes in the menu, including eliminating sliders for bigger sandwiches while also serving flatbreads and cocktails, among other offerings.

The new restaurant owners are also working on finding a way to provide better sun screening for their outdoor dining guests.

• The board also approved a request by Armando Aguilar, Grand Knight of the Hull Knights of Columbus, to park 30 cars at 440 Nantasket Ave. during the beach season. The conditions relate to providing trash barrels and a bathroom for beachgoers using the lot and piping plover educational information provided by the beach management advisory committee.

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