No trailer parking allowed
Staff reporter
Kevin Steele may have to wait a very long time before he can park his semi trailer at his residence on the west edge of town.
Steele initially addressed the council Sept. 24 and requested permission to park his trailer at his residence on West Santa Fe Street. It was determined at that time that Steele was in a unique situation, being located on the outskirts of the city, owning several acres, and off of hard-surfaced streets.
The council instructed city attorney Dan Baldwin to meet with Steele and work out details for the truck driver while maintaining the city's and residents' best interests.
Steele had faithfully returned to each city council meeting since then, seeking permission. Each time, the council found something else to tweak in the amended ordinance.
Finally at Monday's council meeting, it seemed that resolution may be in sight. Councilman Stacey Collett wanted wording to change where a $25 permit would have to be reviewed and renewed annually. Councilman Bill Holdeman wanted traveling truckers to have more than 45 minutes in town to park while eating or taking care of business. Mayor Mary Olson wanted more restrictions in the ordinance regarding the contents of the trailers.
Finally Gene Winkler made a motion to accept the revised ordinance to include an annual review but the motion died for a lack of a second.
Later in the meeting, during the public forum, Steele asked the council, "Where do we go from here? We (he and Baldwin) thought we were doing what you asked us to do. Why didn't the ordinance pass?"
Olson said she had received comments from constituents that maybe Steele's neighbors didn't have the courage to say "no."
"I know I probably wouldn't (have the courage)," Olson said.
Collett said Steele was a big "pusher" for getting Darrell Brewer to develop his truck parking lot. Steele responded that he wasn't a supporter and he wasn't against it.
Currently Steele is using the facility but isn't pleased with it because he said Brewer had promised electricity which hasn't been installed and the lot is a real "mud hole."
Holdeman said he thought Steele's request should be separate from the possible revision of the city's truck ordinance.
Steele agreed.
"My situation is probably one in a million," he said. The location and possibility of parking his trailer at his residence was one of the reasons Steele purchased the house and property.
Olson said she could see the city honoring Steele's request if he was the only one to apply. At a previous meeting, Baldwin stated that there were few locations in the city similar to Steele's and would qualify for a special exemption that could be adopted by the council.
Margo Yates asked if Marion Planning Commission could review such requests and the city issue conditional use permits. Through CUP process, property owners within 200 feet would be contacted by the city and if there was an issue, people may be more inclined to let city officials know than the individual, Yates said.
"We're treating truckers like trash," Holdeman said. Olson responded that she didn't see it that way.
Marion Planning Commission Chairman Roger Schwab said he wasn't sure if this issue could be considered as a CUP but was willing to look at it.
Councilman Gene Winkler said it would make it easier for the council to approve or deny requests if the planning commission did the leg work.
Baldwin said the best way to address the issue from a planning and zoning point was to change the city's zoning regulations.
