North Little Rock residents who keep belongings on their carports, porches or in their yards that weren't meant to be outside will have to move them or risk a ticket come Jan. 1, the North Little Rock City Council decided Monday night.
The new outdoor storage regulations prohibits storing furniture and other items manufactured for indoor use from being kept outside a home.
Exceptions include working appliances, building materials stored temporarily and lawn maintenance tools kept in a carport, or items that are kept in a fully enclosed structure such as a screened-in porch.
City aldermen voted 7-1 for the ordinance that was on its eighth time on the council's agenda, which followed months of work by a task force. Alderman Bruce Foutch voted against it, saying that the more strict rules seemed to punish those "who aren't lucky enough to have a garage."
Alderman Debi Ross, a co-sponsor with Alderman Steve Baxter, talked after the vote about how "difficult" putting the legislation together and that amendments would probably come later.
"Nothing is going to change overnight," Ross said. "It's a start, come January."
One of several amendments adopted Monday night was to eliminate an emergency clause that would have put the rules into effect immediately.
Aldermen have said they recognize the need for an "educational period" for the public to understand the regulations and avoid fines. Even council members were flummoxed at times during discussions.
"God, I'm so confused," Alderman Maurice Taylor said at one point Monday night.
Alderman Charlie Hight asked if specifying carports in an approved amendment would cause confusion and "if there's not a mention of front porches, is that a loophole?" Alderman Murry Witcher asked if items could be moved to a back porch in a yard with a privacy fence where they cannot be seen from the street.
Deputy City Attorney Matt Fleming answered no to both questions.
During questions of whether firewood could be kept on a porch or whether a working vehicle could be covered in a driveway, Alderman Beth White said that the council could debate "an endless list of what-ifs," over what could and couldn't be kept outside.
"There's no way we could ever put everything in this, to say whether this item is legal or not legal" Mayor Joe Smith said. "That's why it's been run through for eight meetings."
The City Council also unanimously approved ordinances to create a multipurpose improvement district and amend the city's Master Street Plan, both which are to help with the development of an area that includes Counts Massie Road, Paul Eells Drive and Vestal Court on the western edge of the city.
The actions will also aid neighboring Maumelle's progress toward building an extension of Counts Massie Road to Interstate 40.
Metro on 08/26/2014