Peter Payette talks with Jacob Wheeler, publisher of the Glen Arbor Sun, about the controversy over parking fees in Empire.

Visitors to the public beach in Empire will pay to park this summer. The Empire Village Council last night stuck with its plan to charge visitors $1 an hour. Citizen-led petition drives both for and against the measure failed to change any minds on the council.

Many supporters of the idea are village residents whose taxes maintain the beach and more than 80 parking spaces. Those opposed say it will overburden parking spaces in the village’s business district or keep tourists away altogether.

No other village in Leelanau county charges for parking. Residents of the village and Empire Township will not be charged to park.