Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County directs staff to post no‑commercial‑vehicle signs and review parking code
Summary
After staff documented repeated truck parking in rights of way, the Alachua County commission voted to post no‑commercial‑vehicle parking signs in problem locations and asked staff to return with code changes aligning county rules with state statute and options for marked on‑street parking where appropriate.
Chris Dawson, principal planner with Alachua County Growth Management, told the Board that recurring complaints and photos show large commercial vehicles parked in county rights of way — notably Southeast 35th Street and near Spring Hill — and that the county’s 1991 parking provisions conflict with current state law.
Dawson said the code contains a broad prohibition on parking “in any kind of county right of way” that is inconsistent with statutory exceptions and with existing permitted, marked on‑street parking. “We have places where we marked on‑street parking and permitted it, but the code language makes it unclear who may legally park there,” he said.
Commissioners debated practical effects on drivers who need overnight parking. One commissioner pressed for accommodations for truckers who are briefly home after long hauls; another said the primary problem is long‑term abandoned or expired‑tag vehicles that become nuisances. Assistant County Manager D. Daniels said the sheriff enforces parking in the right of way while code officers enforce on private property and noted enforcement is often limited where signage is absent.
After discussion the board approved a motion to direct staff to install “no commercial vehicle parking” signs in chronic trouble spots (commissioners specifically cited Southwest 35th Street and the Spring Hill Publix area) and to draft code amendments that would clarify where marked on‑street commercial parking is allowed and how the sheriff could enforce the provisions. The motion passed by voice vote.
Public commenters urged the board to ensure enforcement capacity, including hiring or assigning personnel to monitor posted restrictions. Staff said it will coordinate with the sheriff’s office and return with a proposed list of sign locations and draft code revisions for further action.
The board moved on to its next agenda item after the vote; staff will report back with recommended ordinance language and an implementation plan.
