Agenda Packets - 2014/03/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commercial Vehicle Report March 3, 2014 Page 2 City Considering Commercial Vehicle Code Amendment The number of commercial vehicles parked in residential areas in Mounds View has increased over the years. Many residents have said they want to be able to have their commercial vehicles parked at their homes. The City Council is considering amending the City Code to increase the allowed weight limits of commercial vehicles parked in residential districts. Currently Mounds View City Code prohibits park- ing of any vehicles over a Class "E" weight (6001-9000lbs). As the City considers this City Code amendment, staff Is looking for comments from residents. Please send comments to Housing & Code Enforcement Inspector Craig Swalchick at craig.swalchick(o(7ci.mounds -vlew..mn.us or 763-717-4023. History Commercial vehicles have always been prohibited from being parked in residential districts, although an attempt was made in 1981 to change that. After numerous complaints from truck owners, the City Council adopted Ordinance 303 which served to eliminate the prohibition against commercial vehicles. Residents were opposed to the potential influx of commercial vehicles in their neighborhoods however and circulated petitions against the ordinance. As a result of their efforts, a special election was held on August 18, 1981 to vote on the issue, and the ordinance was over -turned by more than a two -to -one margin. The Nuisance Code underwent a rewrite in 2002, and as a result, two specific references regarding commercial vehicles were added for clarification purposes. The first amendment redefined a commercial vehicle to be any vehicle bearing a weight classification greater than "E". Prior to the amendment, if the license plate exhibited ANY weight classification, it was considered commercial. The second revision added a reference to vehicles with more than one rear axle. Craig Swalchick, Mounds View's Code Enforcement & Housing Inspector, collected photos of commercial vehicles for the Council's information, each with the vehicles corresponding license plate weight designation, for reference. These are attached at the end of the report. Mr. Swalchick also inquired with our neighboring communities to ascertain how others deal with this issue. He writes: When I made contact with the neighboring communities, I found that most were allowing vehicles of 9,000-12,000 lbs --up through a Class "F" designation. The City of Roseville had the most restrictive requirements, allowing only four wheels on a vehicle and nothing more, prohibiting "dually" pick-up trucks and multi -rear axle vehicles. The City of Coon Rapids allows one vehicle over 9,000 lbs GVW to be parked in a residential zone. This was to allow for semi drivers and owner/ operators to park their trucks at their home as long as the parking of that semi was in compliance with all other vehicle ordinances. The cities of Spring Lake Park, Arden Hills and Fridley all allow up to a 12,000 lbs truck to be parked on the property. New Brighton based its restrictions on length and types of activities at the home for which the commercial vehicle was parked.