The Plymouth City Council members took time to discuss an ordinance Monday night that focuses on regulations surrounding the parking of vehicles on residential lawn areas.
The ordinance would restrict motor vehicle parking in a lawn area of a front yard, side yard or in a rear yard of a lot zoned for residential use. It does not pertain to vehicles that display a valid disability license plate or parking placard. The ordinance would allow such parking during the Blueberry Festival.
For each violation, the registered owner of the vehicle shall be assessed a $25 fine.
The council debated the ordinance at length Monday night. Councilman Jeff Houin stated that he would like to see the definition of a motor vehicle and the definitions of yards in the ordinance.
Houin stated, “I’m concerned with including a rear yard in the restriction,” said Houin. “I can understand restricting parking in the front yard and even the side yard, but I have a hard time telling a resident that they can’t park a car in the back yard behind their house. At the very least I would recommend that we remove the rear yard from the restriction and that makes it all that more important to define what is a front yard and what is a side yard that we would be restricting.”
Mayor Mark Senter commented that it could be an environmental impact with oil leaking into a yard, but Houin countered saying that any oil or other pollutants could be washed away in a driveway into the storm sewer that goes to the river.
If residents would like to modify driveways or create a driveway, a permit could be sought.
Police Chief David Bacon said the ordinance would be difficult to enforce and many times people are cited when complaints are filed.
The ability of emergency vehicles to get down the street when vehicles are parked on both sides of the street could be an issue.
Councilman Don Ecker said the ordinance could help preserve property values.
“In my district, there are several houses where people are parking not only in the front yard but also on the side yard,” said Ecker. “What’s unfortunately happening is it’s destroying the grass and there are ruts in the yard because when you have heavy rains and they still park vehicles there it’s just not very attractive. And it does impact property values and that’s one of the things we want to try to sustain is the property value that people have gained over the years.”
Ecker said he is in support of some sort of restriction that is meaningful to the city, which was echoed by Councilman Greg Compton.
Resident Bobbie Milliser voiced her concerns on the proposed ordinance asking where people are supposed to park cars on Harrison Street where there is no parking along the street.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi clarified that the restriction only applies to lots that are adjacent to a public street where parking is permitted.
Milliser further commented that there is no solution on how to fix the problem.
The council members agreed to table the ordinance and discuss it in a future meeting.
