SPRINGDALE -- Residents who live in a subdivision and on less than an acre of agriculturally zoned land now have more restrictions on where they can park their vehicles.
The City Council approved adding restrictions Tuesday to an ordinance about parking on residential zoned properties.
At A Glance
Council Action
Springdale’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:
• Waiving bidding to buy extrication equipment for the Springdale Fire Department.
• Buying two fire engines.
• Amending the budget of the Police Department. Officials will transfer $310,00 from the salaries fund to the equipment fund to update radio equipment.
• Authorizing the city clerk to file a clean-up liens to remove overgrown brush and debris on properties in the city.
Source: Staff Report
Officials added three restrictions, according to meeting documents. The restrictions already apply to residential zones but were also made applicable to agriculturally zoned lots of less than one acre in platted subdivisions.
People aren't allowed to park or store commercial vehicles, according to the changes stated on meeting documents. People can't park, display or store any motor vehicles on grass or unpaved spots. People also can't store or park a motor vehicle in any side yard, backyard or front yard.
The original ordinance was enacted in 2007, and officials have amended it a few times since then, said Ernest Cate, city attorney. One amendment came after residents found a loophole and started to pave more of their front yards to park vehicles. The amendment states no more than 40 percent of a residential property's front yard can be paved.
The current change is needed because officials have noticed some subdivisions are zoned agricultural and not residential, Cate said. The ordinance helps with aesthetics and property value in the neighborhoods.
Cate said he's seen properties on Hatfield Lane and Shannon Street where the grass was worn away by cars people parked on lawns. This can cause property value to decline and deter people from moving into the area.
The amendment could attract residential and business development in the city, said Kathy Jaycox, alderwoman. She explained many residents parked cars on their lawns before the ordinance was enacted in 2007. She said the city looks much nicer now because of the regulations.
"It's pride in one's community," she said.
Agricultural districts are scattered throughout Springdale, but the largest areas with this type of zoning are near the city's borders, according to the online zoning map. There are two agriculturally zoned locations on Thompson street within the city.
The amendment, however, is meant for subdivisions and not for larger agriculturally zoned areas, Cate said. There are less than 12 subdivisions in Springdale with agricultural zoning within them. Most subdivisions are zoned residential.
Susan Pennington attended the meeting and said she lives on a residential zoned property on Derrick Lane. There's a car on the grass at her house, but she said she didn't know about the ordinance. Her family parks a car on the grass when there are many cars at the house. She said she will move the car off the grass and comply with the ordinance now that she knows about it.
NW News on 08/27/2014