Presenter/Contact
Presenter
Stacy Snell, Planning and Community Development Assistant Director
Contact Info
ssnell@nbtexas.org
Subject Header
SUBJECT:
Title
Public Hearing and recommendation to City Council regarding proposed amendments to Chapter 144 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, Zoning, Section 1.4 Definitions, Section 5.1-4, Parking and Storage of Certain Vehicles, and, Section 2.4, Enforcement and Administration.
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BACKGROUND / RATIONALE:
The parking and maintenance of large commercial vehicles on residential driveways and in backyards has become of increasing concern to residents within the City of New Braunfels. While there are ordinances addressing the paving of driveways, and the parking of such vehicles on the street in front of homes, there is not an ordinance addressing the parking of such vehicles on private residential properties. Therefore, City Council directed staff to bring forward through the process code amendments to address this citizen concern. The proposed revisions to Section 5.1-4, Parking and Storage of Certain Vehicles, would prohibit larger commercial vehicles from parking within residential neighborhoods.
For clear, consistent identification, the draft language utilizes industry standards of vehicle classification. Vehicles are classified based upon their gross vehicle weight, which range from Class 1 (standard family vehicle such as a pick-up truck or SUV) to Class 8 (extra-large commercial vehicle such as a cement truck or semi-truck). The proposed standards would apply to vehicles designated as Class 6, Class 7 and Class 8, which weigh over 19,500 pounds. These vehicles are visually represented in the definition of an Oversized Vehicle within the proposed amendment.
The proposed ordinance is intended to protect the residential character, quality of life, and property values within residential neighborhoods, while maintaining the ability to take home modest commercial vehicles for those employees allowed to bring vehicles home from work in the evenings.
ADDRESSES A NEED/ISSUE IN A CITY PLAN OR COUNCIL PRIORITY:
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CITY PLAN/COUNCIL PRIORITY Envision New Braunfels Comprehensive Plan |
Action 1.11: Update policies and codes to achieve development patterns that implement the goals of Envision New Braunfels. Action 3.6: Pro-actively provide a regulatory environment that remains business and resident friendly. Action 3.17: Enact policies that dis-incentivize incompatible commercial encroachment into neighborhoods that whittle away at the edges, while still allowing for neighborhood scale commercial within walking distance of homes. Action 7.8: Enhance pedestrian quality of the City by limiting the realm of the automobile. Growth and Future Land Use Goals - Protect the character, integrity and stability of neighborhoods where families live. Economic Competitiveness - Continue to diversify the economy to ensure adaptability and resiliency. |
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approval
ATTACHMENTS:
Draft Code Amendments