Trinity property owners who wish to park their tractor-trailers within the city have only seven more days to apply for a permit. After that, the moratorium on a zoning ordinance which prohibits all tractor-trailer parking in the city will be lifted.

“We need to hear from anyone who owns property on which a truck is parked, regardless of who owns the truck,” City Manager Ann Bailie told the NEWS. “They need to call the city or come by our office.”

The city needs to hear from those property owners because at the Feb. 16 meeting, Trinity City Council ended a five-month debate on whether or not to allow tractor-trailers to park within the city. They did so by approving a proposal from Councilman Kelly Grooms.

Under the terms of that proposal, truckers who park at home and property owners who allow trucks to park were given 30 days from the meeting date to apply for a permit that will allow them to continue parking.

“After that it’s over, zoning takes over from there,” Grooms said during the meeting. “Only the property owner can apply for the permit. If they don’t pay taxes, no permit.”

This proposal, while allowing existing trucks to continue parking in the city, would prohibit any future truckers from doing the same. There will be no fee for the permit. Replacement trucks may be allowed.

Also, the permit would not be transferable; if the trucker moves to another location within the city, the permit will expire. The permit is also not tied to the property past the life of the truck it grandfathers.

The city used a similar tactic with mobile home parks in 1998.

Bailie said that while truckers and property owners have until March 17, the city needs to hear from them sooner.

“We do not have a process set up for this,” she said Feb. 17. “We need to know who has a truck, then conduct visits, take pictures and talk to the owners.”

Council planned to discuss the process at its pre-agenda meeting March 9, too late for this edition of the NEWS.

Bailie noted that based on the wording of Grooms’ motion, the permit likely will not restrict a truck’s hours of operation or include screening requirements.

However, during the meeting Councilman Robbie Sikes made a point to tell the truckers to talk to their neighbors, especially if they need to leave very early or come in very late.

“City Council can’t fix everything,” he told them. “If neighborhoods have deed restrictions (prohibiting trucks parking), it will trump this.”

Sikes said that in the future, Council should require developers to register any deed restrictions or restrictive covenants before the city gives final approval on the development.

To apply for a permit, call the city at 431-2841 or visit the office at 6701 N.C. Hwy. 62.