Planning Commission Looks at Proposed Ordinances

The Jasper County Planning and Zoning Commission met in what was supposed to be a regular meeting last Thursday, March 29 to discuss off street parking and loading requirements.

This issue arose from a complaint that some commercial vehicles were parking on the right of ways on particular streets causing emergency vehicles and other vehicles an increased danger.

The county attorney handed down a version of a resolution that the P&Z committee quickly dismissed, however, there were several copies that the public received and there were over 30 people in attendance to voice their concerns on the issue, with many being concerned with school bus parking.

Debby Dammann, Planning and Zoning chair, addressed all in attendance. She stated that the concern seemed to be primarily with the Off Street Parking and asked for suggestions.

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Committee member, vice-chair, Lee Holman addressed the issue and said that the main concern was with public safety on roads, with large vehicles being in the streets becoming a safety hazard. He said that the committee had been looking at restricting parking on right of ways and the intention of the resolution was to not impede emergency vehicles or school buses.

He then stated the weight requirements that were based on the 26,001 pound weight classifications on these vehicles and noted that exclusions would be allowed for deliveries as long as the driver was in relative proximity to the vehicle at all times.

Jerry Williams, Transportation Director for Jasper County schools addressed the commission saying that it was understood that this new ordinance would include school buses. He stated to the commission that a number of bus drivers park their buses at home and both begin and end their routes there.

He expressed concern that with gas prices, budget cuts at roughly $2 million for transportation, and hours drivers worked all played a factor in his livelihood.

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He said that currently there are no buses parked in Turtle Cove overnight.

Commission member Justin Owens said, “You can park it [the bus] anywhere in your yard. It just can’t be parked on a public street or right-of-way. If you can get it in your yard, however it fits, it’s fine.”

Skip Nowetner asked about homeowners associations and their regulations, and was told that the P&Z had no control over those.

It was asked by an attendee in the audience about were there already state and or county laws which regulated parking such as this.

There was much confusion and conversation to the commission as to how their process worked, and Mr. Holman reminded the audience that Planning and Zoning is simply a recommending board that once it makes a recommendation the resolution still goes before the Board of Commissioners to be approved.

Mr. Holman then read the ordinance for residential districts which stated the following,

The intent of this restriction is to limit street parking in the counties densely populated zoning districts so as not to impede emergency vehicles and school buses traveling on these secondary roadways. The restriction would be that vehicles described below are restricted from parking on county streets and right of way in residential districts. Vehicles weighing 26,001 pounds and greater and requiring an operators license of class A or B.

In addition those vehicles weighing less than 26,000 pounds and towing a trailer and requiring an operator’s license of C or greater are also restricted. The exception is service vehicles providing repairs or deliveries to a residence are allowed to be parked on a temporary basis and the driver must remain within close proximity to the vehicle (delivery lot). No overnight parking is permitted.

Another citizen asked if this ordinance went for tractor trailers too, which it was responded that any vehicle requiring a CDL or other type of commercial drivers’ license must have the vehicle on their property.

A man, stating that this was his first Planning and Zoning meeting asked why this type of thing was top driven [coming from the County Attorney down, rather than vice versa]. He wanted to know how all of the copies of the initial ordinance got out, if the P&Z board was just going to trash it and begin again.

After Mr. Holman read a revised version, which was much more clear than the previous, the board said that they would take a vote to recommend this in May. [The regular meeting turned into a work session after it was discovered that the meeting was not properly advertised.]

The other discussion was on reducing the Jasper County minimum square footage requirements for residential districts. There was some discussion as to the number of square feet going from 1,500 to 1,800 square feet and now it’s currently back at 1,500 square feet.

It was noted that there have only been four building permits requested in the previous 12 months, so therefore there was no immediate change necessary.

Anyone with input or questions is asked to contact Lee Holman at holman5312@bellsouth.net.