Stonecrest staff propose tightening commercial-vehicle parking rules in citywide code amendment

City of Stonecrest Code Enforcement presented a proposed text modification, TMOD 24-001, on March 13, 2025, asking the public to consider changes to Section 6.103 of the municipal code that would restrict commercial-vehicle parking and overnight storage.

"A commercial vehicle including but not limited to semi trucks with or without trailer, dump trucks, flatbed trucks, tow trucks, utility trucks, box trucks, and delivery trucks are prohibited from parking in all residentially zoned properties unless work is being performed by the business associated with said vehicle or said commercial vehicle and workers are present," Director Butts said, reading the proposed language. Director Butts said the amendment would also prohibit commercial vehicles from parking or being stored overnight in most commercial and mixed-use districts unless the vehicle is associated with the business on the property or is actively loading or unloading.

Butts described several specific changes: replacing the word "business" with "commercial" in the section that currently governs parking of business vehicles on private property; narrowing previously listed exceptions; and designating that truck parking be limited to approved truck parking lots in M-light industrial and M2-heavy industrial districts. He said the intent is to reduce instances of semitrailers and box trucks parked overnight in retail lots such as large grocery or big-box parking areas.

Residents raised related enforcement concerns. Patricia Lett, a Stonecrest resident, reported large trucks parked for days and illegal dumping near Industrial Boulevard and the I-20/Woodrow/Bethany area. Director Butts replied that some situations—such as vehicles parked on the roadway or illegal dumping—can require police response rather than code enforcement, and he asked residents to submit complaints and evidence so staff can investigate. Butts said enforcement will rely on evidence such as photographs and, if necessary, a task unit that could perform night checks to document overnight parking violations.

Staff said the TMOD will continue to the Planning Commission for a public hearing on April 1, 2025, and then to the Mayor and City Council for a final public hearing on April 28, 2025. No formal action was taken at the informational meeting.

The proposed language and the examples discussed at the meeting indicate the amendment would directly affect commercial parking practices at retail and mixed-use properties and clarify enforcement authority for code officers.