The new ordinance forbids trucks or freight trailers from parking in residential areas. This photo was taken on Trinity Road.
“This law is an undue burden on citizens, and you need to rescind it or grandfather people in,” Gerald Wong told Council at the Sept. 15 meeting. “I’ve tried to appease my neighbors by parking elsewhere, but I keep getting forced out. Right now I’ve found a place, but it’s costing me $30 a month and all my stuff — my cargo, computer, scanner and other electronics — are at the mercy of vandalism (and so is) my personal car when I’m on the road for two to three weeks.”
Wong and others spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting. At each City Council meeting, citizens have three minutes to speak about any topic not on the evening’s agenda.
The ordinance regulating where trucks and freight trailers can park has exceptions, but no grandfather clause, said Joe Rainey, city planner and code enforcement officer.
“There’s no grandfathering, it went into effect as soon as it was passed,” he told the NEWS.
According to the ordinance, trucks and freight trailers that are 80 inches or more wide and have a combined length of 30 or more feet are prohibited from parking in any residential zoning district.
Moving vehicles and emergency responders are exempted, as are lawn service or home repair trucks as long as they are servicing a nearby home or property.
There is one more exception. Truck and freight trailers can park in the residential-agricultural zoning district if the vehicle and/or trailer is located behind a primary structure or at least 1,000 feet from the center line of the street.
No one had spoken against the ordinance during the public hearing at the Aug. 18 meeting, when it was adopted by Council. Several truck drivers present at the Sept. 15 meeting told Council that they found out about the ordinance only after reading newspaper articles written after it was passed.
Ed Lohr, a truck driver who attended the meeting, told the NEWS he never saw the ordinance advertised in the newspaper ahead of time.
“We looked back in the papers to see where it was advertised ahead of time, and couldn’t find it,” Lohr explained. “I feel like my rights are being violated. You try to be a good citizen ... I was born here, and none of neighbors mind.”
Other drivers also agreed with Wong that they had the right to park on their own property.
“My husband drives a truck, why can’t he park his truck on his property?” questioned Susan Hicks. “This ordinance does not pay attention to the people who make their living with trucks.”
Hicks was not the only wife to speak on behalf of her husband. Lucy Rush was there representing her absent husband, and asked Council reconsider the ordinance.
“My husband is a professional truck driver and he parks across the street from our house, two feet off the road,” Rush explained. “He does not idle, he does not make noise. We have talked to our neighbors and they do not mind. We wish you would reconsider.”
“Why is the city limiting how taxpayers make money?” asked Arthur Gilbert. “America moves by trucks, vans and RVs. I hope the city will rescind this ordinance.”
Others were far more direct.
“I think we ought to be grandfathered in because I don’t have the money to buy property elsewhere,” Mike Cox said vehemently. “It’s not fair to tell us we can’t park on our own property.”
“I’ve been truckin’ since 1964, and the only way I can survive is to work on my truck at my house,” agreed Bill Burge.
“Just because I’m a truck driver does not mean I’m uneducated,” declared James Creech, a former banker with J.P. Morgan. “There’s nothing in the community covenants that forbids my truck, which is not longer than 30 feet but is wider than 80 feet. How does that fit (the ordinance)?”
Creech also told Council that he had “retained counsel” and been advised to “request a moratorium.”
Other comments focused on safety issues.
Darrell Johnson said truckers should be able to park their trucks at home, but felt that keeping them off the streets would promote better safety.
“I’ve got no problem with people parking trucks in driveways, but I do not like them on the road, it’s dangerous,” firefighter Lee Wolfe noted.
However, a few people present did have a problem with truck drivers parking at their homes.
Cheryl Barker attempted to play a recording of a conversation with her neighbor, Creech, that she claims is just one instance of him harassing her family when they complained about his truck.
Mayor Fran Andrews asked her to stop playing the recording because no one could understand it.
Her husband, James Barker, then told Council, “It’s just a nuisance. I have nothing against truck drivers, just be respectful of neighbors.”
Chester Ayres was also in favor keeping the ordinance as is.
“This ordinance was passed and the time has come for it,” he opined. “If it’s a residential area, that’s what it is. Truck drivers, don’t take it personal, we just need to take the billboards out of neighborhoods.”
Lohr, however, just shook his head.
“I’ve lived in my house for over 35 years, and I’ve driven a truck since 1971,” Lohr recalled. “I fought in Vietnam and came home with a purple heart. What did I fight for?”
Council took no action, nor did they make any comments.
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