(Atlantic) The Atlantic City Council on Wednesday night passed the first reading to change the ordinance following a recommendation by the Atlantic Community Protection Committee.
Atlantic residents holding notices for violating the cities truck and large vehicle parking ordinance can throw them away if the City Council approves the change on the final two readings.
Recently, Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson received 76 property complaints, and 21 of those related to vehicles, which is a Police Department matter. The current ordinance bans truck or large vehicle parking in a resident’s front yard.
The parking ordinance drew criticism from some residents, so Mayor Dave Jones sent the matter to the Community Protection Committee for review. “There are a lot of parking violations throughout town under the current ordinance, and we’ve received a lot of complaints about junk,” said Atlantic City Administrator John Lund. “The police department and code enforcement officer is enforcing the ordinance and a lot of citizens are upset. They’ve spoken with the Mayor and Council members, and the Community Protection Committee met and decided to get rid of the parking ban in front yards.”
The Atlantic Community Protection Committee met one week ago, and recommended the City Council change the ordinance to allow the parking of large vehicles and Trucks in front yards. “The Mayor placed the enforcement in limbo, anyone who received a notice can throw it away, because there won’t be any,” said Atlantic City Administrator John Lund.
The new ordinance would allow boats, boat trailers, campers, recreational vehicles, or trailers, of similarly large vehicles be kept in the front yard area of a property. However, the vehicle must be parked behind the sidewalk, on private property and not project into the Right-Of-Way. Large vehicle owners and operators living on corner lots must check with the Police Department for permission, if the council votes to change the ordinance. Additionally, gravel would be added to the ordinance as a hard surface area.
The new ordinance must pass two more readings before it becomes law.
