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Planning Commission 4/27/04 r: ITEM: Proposed Ordinance Amending Chapter 9 of the City Code Concerning Vehicle Sales SUBMITTED BY: Deborah Jones, Planning and Zoning Coordinator REVIEWED BY: Heather Worthington, City Administrator EXPLANATION: Summary: During the last several years, Staff have received numerous communications from residents concerned about the parking of cars for sale on the public right of way, particularly along the two Snelling service drives. Typically, cars are parked bynon-residents and identified as being for sale by signage inside the car. The residents have raised the following concerns: Illegal business operation on a public right-of--way. Residents have observed the same individuals selling different cars on the frontage road, in effect, operating an unlicensed and illegal business on the public right-of--way. • Safety. The frontage roads are narrow and, in places, have poor visibility for drivers emerging from driveways or turning into and out of cross streets. Parked cars contribute to • the visibility problem, especially at night. Parked cars also encourage oncoming traffic to detour to the wrong side of the street, which has caused several near-accidents. While residents recognize that street parking is a convenience for themselves and their visitors, and while they are prepared to take necessary precautions for legitimate short term parking, they feel that cars left on the road only for the purpose of sale unnecessarily add to the existing safety hazards. • Neighborhood quality of life. Residents feel that the parked vehicles for sale are detrimental to the visual attractiveness and the quality of the neighborhood. They are concerned about the additional traffic congestion caused by "customers" gathering and parking near these vehicles and turning around in private driveways. At present the only means the City has to discourage these vehicle sale operations is the parking ordinance, which allows street parking up to 48 hours. Residents must call the police and ask to have the tires marked and then checked again two days later. If the car has been moved even a short distance in 48 hours, the clock starts again. Imposing additional parking restrictions on the frontage roads alone will merely move the problem elsewhere, as well as impose a different inconvenience on residents and visitors who need to park on the street for legitimate short-term purposes. Staff agrees with the residents that it is not in the best interests of the City, the residents or legal businesses in the City to allow these car sales to continue. At the same time, the City does not want to unduly restrict residents in selling their own personal vehicles on their own property. Other cities have successfully dealt with this problem by adopting ordinances that restrict the Planning Commission: Staff Report on Proposed Ordinance Concerning Vehicle Sales 4/27/04