HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9965 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9965
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 15, 2016
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*a SUBJECT: ON-STREET PARKING OF TRAILERS AND SEMI-TRAILERS IN
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Constituents have recently expressed concerns that trailers parked on the public streets in residential
neighborhoods are blocking views and creating safety hazards for pedestrians. This Informal Report will
provide a summary of the existing City ordinances, including an explanation of the differences between
Oversized Commercial Vehicles, Trailers, Semi-Trailers, Large Recreational Vehicles, and Oversized
Recreational Vehicles; propose staff recommendations to address the safety hazards; and propose other
minor modifications to clarify the ordinances for enforcement purposes.
Section 22-162.2 of the City Code makes it unlawful to park Oversized Commercial Vehicles (1) on a
public street in any area zoned residential or used for residential purposes, unless the vehicle is being
actively loaded or unloaded, or (2) for more than two hours on a public street in any other area. Oversized
Commercial Vehicles are vehicles designed to transport more than 15 people; trailers larger than 20 feet
long, seven feet wide, and seven feet high; and motor vehicles weighing more than 15,000 pounds. The
City Code does not prohibit on-street parking of Trailers or Semi-Trailers that are less than 20 feet long,
seven feet wide, or seven feet high. By definition, Trailers are constructed so that no part of its weight rests
upon the towing vehicle, while Semi-Trailers are constructed so that some part of its weight and that of its
on load rests upon the towing vehicle.
Section 22-162.2 of the City Code also prohibits the parking of Large Recreational Vehicles and Oversized
Recreational Vehicles on a public street; however, in areas zoned residential or used for residential
purposes, Large Recreational Vehicles and Oversized Recreational Vehicles may be parked for loading,
unloading, or maintenance for no more than 72 hours in any seven-day period. The terms Large
Recreational Vehicle and Oversized Recreation Vehicle includes recreational vehicles, and boat trailers or
other trailers, and converted buses but distinguished by size, between 26 and 40 feet in length for the
former and over 40 feet in length for the latter.
Staff recommends the following actions to address the safety concerns expressed by the constituents:
(1) Amend the definition of Oversized Commercial Vehicle in Section 22-1 of the City Code to include
Semi-Trailers that are more than 20 feet in length from end to end, more than seven feet in width at
their widest point, or more than seven feet in height at their highest point;
(2) Amend Section 22-162.2 of the City Code to add a subsection prohibiting the parking of Trailers
and Semi-Trailers, regardless of size, in areas zoned residential or used for residential purposes
between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.; and
(3) Make no change to the regulation of Large Recreational Vehicles and Oversized Recreational
Vehicles.
In summary, these changes would add the prohibition of large Semi-Trailers under Section 22-162.2 to
mirror the current on-street parking prohibition of large Trailers. It would also prohibit the on-street
parking of all Trailers and Semi-Trailers at night. Large Recreational Vehicles and Oversized Recreational
Vehicles would continue to be allowed to on-street park in areas zoned residential or used for residential
purposes for up to 72 hours in any seven-day period.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9965
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 15, 2016
OX,Fas +r Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: ON-STREET PARKING OF TRAILERS AND SEMI-TRAILERS IN
r ,a RESIDENTIAL AREAS
In addition to addressing these safety concerns, staff recommends clarifying some additional wording in
Chapter 22 of the City Code. Staff recommends amending Chapter 22 to clarify that the height of Trailers
should be measured to include tires. Furthermore, Section 22-159 of the City Code addresses the storing of
vehicles on a public street and uses the terms Vehicle and Motor Vehicle interchangeably. The definition
of Motor Vehicle does not include Trailers and Semi-Trailers and the definition of Vehicle does. Staff
recommends changing Motor Vehicle to Vehicle in both the title and subsection (a) of Section 22-159 to
clarify that Trailers and Semi-Trailers are prohibited from being stored on City streets.
A Mayor and Council Communication will be brought before City Council in December for consideration
of these proposed changes.
If you have any questions, please call Doug Wiersig, Transportation and Public Works Director, at 817-
392-7801.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS