Planning commission backs ordinance to limit overnight parking, storage of commercial vehicles

STONECREST, Ga. — The Stonecrest Planning Commission on April 1 unanimously recommended that City Council approve a text amendment (TMOD24-001) to restrict overnight parking and storage of commercial vehicles on residential property and to clarify where commercial vehicle parking is permitted.

Code Enforcement Director Ralph Butts presented the amendment and said it would add new provisions to Chapter 7, Article 6, Section 6.103 of the zoning ordinance defining “commercial vehicles” and prohibiting their overnight parking on residential property unless the vehicle is actively engaged in work at the residence or is associated with a business on the property.

Butts said the city’s primary enforcement target is large trucks and semitrailers that park overnight in private commercial or retail lots without loading activity. “Our biggest thing is semis that if they are parking at Walmart because they don't wanna go to a truck parking lot and pay for a space…they're parking at Walmart overnight, but they are not loading or unloading anything at Walmart. They're just parking,” Butts said.

The amendment as presented would:

- Define commercial vehicles to include semi trucks (with or without trailers), dump trucks, flatbeds, tow trucks, utility trucks, buses, box trucks and delivery trucks; and - Prohibit commercial vehicles from parking overnight on residential private property except where the vehicle is associated with a permitted home-based business or is actively loading/unloading with a driver present; and - Limit parking or storage of commercial vehicles in O-1, OD, C-1, C-2, MU-1, MU-2, MU-3, MU-4 and NS zoning districts unless the vehicle is associated with a business on the site or engaged in loading/unloading where the driver is present.

Why it matters: Director Butts and commissioners said the change is intended to give code enforcement a clearer ordinance basis to cite vehicles that regularly use retail or public lots for overnight truck parking. The city attorney confirmed the text amendment must follow the standard zoning text-amendment process through Planning Commission before City Council consideration.

Enforcement and exceptions: Butts and commissioners discussed exceptions for businesses that legitimately use commercial vehicles on-site, loading and unloading activity, and municipal limits on right-of-way enforcement. Butts said the right-of-way question is primarily a police issue and that the amendment is focused on private property and zoning districts.

Outreach and penalties: Butts said the department will publicize the change and that enforcement could include monetary citations; he said code officers will notify businesses in advance to reduce surprise enforcement. The city attorney also noted the city has posted a solicitation for a zoning rewrite to consider related code improvements.

Action and vote: The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. Chairman Eric Hubbard moved for approval and Commissioner Pearl Hollis seconded; commissioners voted in favor by voice vote.

Ending: With a unanimous Planning Commission recommendation, TMOD24-001 will proceed to City Council for final action; if adopted, code enforcement said it would publicize the change to business owners and property managers before strict enforcement.