Springdale aldermen take steps toward parking changes

SPRINGDALE -- Aldermen took steps Monday toward more regulations for parking vehicles.

Officials forwarded two amendments to the city's code of ordinances at Monday's City Council committee meeting. One change relates to rules about residents parking in front of other peoples' houses. The other relates to banning box trucks from being parked in residential and other areas.

Committee action

Aldermen forwarded the following items to City Council during Monday’s City Council committee meeting:

• Amending the city’s code of ordinances concerning pawned property.

• Amending the city’s code of ordinances concerning the procedure for filing referendum petitions.

• Razing and demolishing a residential structure at 512 Caudle Ave.

• Waiving competitive bidding for the Springdale Police Department to purchase mobile data terminals.

• Authorizing the Springdale Fire Department to add one captain position.

• Amending the Springdale Fire Department’s 2015 budget to repair a vehicle.

• Transferring property from the city of Springdale to the Springdale Water and Sewer Commission.

• Waiving competitive bidding to purchase trash compactors for a few parks.

Source: Staff report

The first proposed change evolved from an issue between residents on Westwood Avenue. Multiple residents from the street attended the meeting and complained about Michael Grindstaff, owner of Hellanback Tow & Recovery, parking his vehicles in front of other peoples' houses on the street. Grindstaff was also present at the meeting.

The change to the city's code of ordinance would change the section labeled "Street parking and emergency access routes." It would limit vehicle owners who are parking on the street in residential areas to only parking their vehicles adjacent to their property. They can also do so if they don't own the property but have permission from the person who owns it.

The change would also state it doesn't apply to someone parking a vehicle temporarily, like for a party. Those vehicles could temporarily be parked for a maximum of three hours.

Ernest Cate, city attorney, said Grindstaff was already cited for towing vehicles to his house, because he was in violation of the city's zoning ordinance. He would be in contempt of court if he does so again.

Grindstaff said he only towed a vehicle to his house once and it was there for 10 hours.

Joanna Williams said one of his vehicles was in front of her house from 1:30 a.m. Monday until the time she left the house.

Grindstaff said that a maximum of six adults and two children live at the house at any given time. They have five personal vehicles and two wreckers. Three of the personal vehicles are in the driveway, but he can't fit the rest just in front of the house.

Grindstaff explained to officials and residents at the meeting what he has to do to get all of his vehicles to fit on the street.

"I don't like to have to walk two houses down to get to my vehicles," He said. He also said he has no choice.

Cate explained commercial vehicles already can't park on residential streets. Grindstaff's wreckers, however, are not considered commercial vehicles because of their size.

The change would affect Grindstaff's response time in the event of a vehicle accident, he said. He explained he would have to drive 12 minutes, more in traffic, to his lot on Louisiana Place, pick up a wrecker and then drive to the scene of the accident.

Mayor Doug Sprouse said he is hesitant to amend the city's code of ordinances based on one situation. However, he said he and Cate have spoken about it a lot, and there is no path for them to deal with the situation.

Aldermen also forwarded to City Council an amendment to the city's code of ordinances concerning box trucks. The change classifies box trucks as commercial vehicles, which can't be parked or stored in residential areas, in platted subdivisions that are in agricultural areas or on agricultural lots that are less than one acre.

NW News on 07/07/2015

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