04-28-2014 CC - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mounds View council supports heavier Second reading of proposed ordinance is April 28 BY KASSIE PETERPMNH IM f6US, H UtiPAPElls The Mounds View City Council unanimously ap- proved the first reading of an amended ordinance that relates to commercial vehicles. Recently, Code Enforce- ment and Housing In- spector Craig Swalchicic informed the council that the number of commercial vehicles parked in residen- tial areas has increased, and there are vehicles in Mounds View that are over the city code's weight limit. Since January, the coun- cil has been reviewing the section of city code that regulates parking of com- mercial vehicles in residen- tial districts. Currently, city code pro- hibits parking of any com- mercial vehicles greater than 10,000 pounds, The council has expressed sup- port for allowing commer- cial vehicles up to 15,000 pounds. The proposed ordinance also includes a limit of six toes on a com- mercial vehicle and one commercial vehicle per residential property. Public hearing During the April 14 public meeting, resident Carly Steinbach said the street she lives on was improved last year, and she's concerned larger ve- hicles would damage the streets that have been re- constructed via the city's improvement program. She told the council that her 12 -year-old son skate- boards and that she and her husband love running in their neighborhood. Steinbach also said she's concemed that drivers of larger vehicles might not see children when they're backing in and out of driveways. Marilyn Eibs, a Mounds View resident since 1959, said it would be a big mis- take to allow heavier com- mercial vehicles to park in residential areas. "I've seen the roads go from a dirt trail past my house to a wonderful street with curbs and gut- ters," she said. "I'd like to see it stay that way." Christian Fenton, who moved to Mounds View last November with his family, owns a lawn care business. "I completely agree with keeping the city in the best possible situation and good order," he said. Fenton said he was re- cently made aware that one of his trailers is slight- ly over what the city cur- rently allows for commer- cial vehicles. "For me, it world be helpful to have a slightly higher weight allowance," he told the council. Councilmember AI Hull said some neighboring cit- ies allow larger trucks, so what the city is proposing "is not out of the norm." Mayor Joe Flaherty said city staff showed the coun- cil pictures of commercial vehicles that fit the exist- ing weight limit and the proposed weight limit, and the trucks are virtuallv the same. Flaherty said he doesn't anticipate seeing a lot more commercial trucks in residential areas, but if that does happen, the VEHICLES: To page 13