Trinity leaders are still unsure if they will allow truck drivers to park more than one tractor-trailer rig on their property, even if they applied for a permit within the 30-day deadline.

The Council discussed the permits at a special meeting held March 25, but took no action. Public comment was not allowed at the meeting.

In September, the Council passed an ordinance which banned tractor-trailer parking in the city, except for zoned areas. That ordinance was placed under an enforcement moratorium in October after truckers protested that they could not park at their homes.

At the Feb. 16 meeting, Council members set a stipulation that all truck drivers must obtain a permit to park at their homes. Drivers had until March 18 to apply for the permit. However, the city could not issue permits to the 46 people who applied because the permits were not defined by ordinance.

At the special meeting, Council discussed what the permits should and should not allow. The consensus was to allow all previously existing truckers who applied for a permit to continue to park at their homes. Questions arose over whether to allow two or more trucks to park on the same property — even if both trucks are owned by the property owner.

City Manager Ann Bailie told the NEWS the Council’s consensus was to permit the property owner regardless of the number of tractor-trailer rigs on the property, with no distinction between residential zones and elsewhere.

That includes trailers, she added.

“The question is, can we continue to allow more than one truck? That violates our existing zoning ordinance,” Bailie explained.

According to the city’s zoning ordinance, parking two or more tractor-trailer rigs on one property constitutes a trucking terminal — which are not allowed in residential areas.

Bailie said City Attorney Bob Wilhoit was investigating the city’s options.

“We’re either gonna allow this or not,” Councilman Robbie Sikes pointed out during the nearly two-hour long meeting. “Let’s move ahead, we’ve tied up too much time with it already.”

“If we stay with the motion I made and answer the questions asked about tractors and trailers (provided by city staff), to me that’s the simplest way,” said Councilman Kelly Grooms.

Grooms added that a neighborhood can enforce restrictive covenants where tractor-trailer rigs are prohibited.

In Grooms’ motion, made at the February meeting, to permit existing truckers only, required that the trucker own the property and the truck. At the meeting, however, Council agreed that trucks owned by spouses or children who can prove residency at the property and who have a valid commercial driver’s license, are eligible for a permit.

The Council also agreed that leased trucks are ineligible for a permit, but trucks and trailers can be exchanged.

The city’s stormwater ordinances already prohibit illicit discharge or motor oil, anti-freeze and other substances, said Stormwater Administrator Rich Baker, but Council agreed to duplicate the language in the ordinance. This means that truckers cannot perform major maintenance on their trucks while parked at the residence.

Baker also pointed out that trailers containing hazardous material are not allowed to park outside designated areas by federal law, so it is not necessary to include that in the ordinance.

According to Bailie, the permits will have to be renewed every year. Permits will not be renewed if the driver does not own a truck at the time of renewal, if the property where the truck is parked changes ownership, if the driver loses his or her CDL or if the property owner receives two or more city zoning citations.

Council will hold a public hearing on this at its next regular meeting, set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 20.

“The question is, can we continue to allow more than one truck? That violates our existing zoning ordinance,” Bailie explained.

According to the city’s zoning ordinance, parking two or more tractor-trailer rigs on one property constitutes a trucking terminal — which is not allowed in residential areas.

Bailie said City Attorney Bob Wilhoit was investigating the city’s options.

“We’re either gonna allow this or not,” Councilman Robbie Sikes pointed out during the nearly two-hour long meeting. “Let’s move ahead, we’ve tied up too much time with it already.”

“If we stay with the motion I made and answer the questions asked about tractors and trailers (provided by city staff), to me that’s the simplest way,” said Councilman Kelly Grooms.

Grooms later added that a neighborhood can enforce restrictive covenants where tractor-trailer rigs are prohibited.

Grooms’ motion, made at the February meeting, to permit existing truckers only, required that the trucker own the property and the truck. At the meeting, however, Council agreed that trucks owned by spouses or children, who can prove residency at the property and who have a valid commercial driver’s license, are eligible for a permit.

The Council also agreed that leased trucks are ineligible for a permit, but trucks and trailers can be replaced.

The city’s stormwater ordinances already prohibit illicit discharge or motor oil, anti-freeze and other substances, said Stormwater Administrator Rich Baker, but Council agreed to duplicate the language in the ordinance. This means that truckers cannot perform major maintenance on their trucks while parked at the residence.

Baker also pointed out that trailers containing hazardous material are not allowed to park outside designated areas by federal law, so it is not necessary to include that in the ordinance.

According to Bailie, the permits will have to be renewed every year. Permits will not be renewed if the driver does not own a truck at the time of renewal, if the property where the truck is parked changes ownership, if the driver loses his or her CDL or if the property owner receives two or more city zoning citations.

Council will hold a public hearing on this at its next regular meeting set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 20.