Weirton Council re-examining parking ordinance proposal
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WEIRTON - Weirton Council is taking a second look at an ordinance, presented earlier this month and designed to address concerns with the parking and storage of vehicles on unimproved areas, before moving it toward final passage.
Council met in a work session Tuesday, deciding to form a committee - to be comprised of Councilmembers Rick Stead, Jesse Keeder and Chris Jonczak - to consider possible amendments to the ordinance. It also was suggested the ordinance be tabled when it comes up for a second reading at council’s October meeting.
Mayor Dean Harris explained there has been feedback on the initial wording of the ordinance, from councilmembers and the public, which he felt warranted another look and possible amendments.
"We’ve heard some concerns," Harris said. "I thought it best we get in a room to discuss it."
Approved for its first reading by a 6-0 vote, Sept. 8, the ordinance would amend Articles 351 and 541 of city code relating to the parking of vehicles in the grass or unimproved areas of any front or side yard.
One proposal, discussed Tuesday, would be to also include restrictions for parking or storage of items in the rear yard "or any exterior portion of a premises, including unimproved or ‘paper’ alleyways."
Mark Miller, the city’s planning and development director, noted an ordinance previously had been passed prohibiting parking cars in the grass of the front or side yards of a property.
"That was passed in 2017," Miller said. "When we addressed those issues, people are just moving everything into the back yard. It created a whole new, unforeseen problem and when Nick and the guys get phone calls, we don’t have any language, currently in the ordinance, to address them."
Miller explained the ordinance is not setting up an opportunity to hire any more property maintenance employees, and also will not give existing code enforcement staff the ability to go onto private property without valid complaints or cooperation from property owners.
"We don’t have the manpower, or the time and interest in driving around and looking for things in the back yard," Miller said.
Code Official Nick Stewart reiterated, while his staff can address things which are in open view, they need to have reason and access to view a rear yard, and that typically is something they can only obtain with assistance from neighbors. That’s not always been possible, he explained.
"A lot of people want to stay anonymous, so there’s no retaliation," Stewart said.
Jonczak asked about one element of the proposed ordinance, suggesting the allowance of "crush and run" gravel, with Miller noting the elements included are what are currently allowed under the city’s Unified Development Ordinance, which would have to be amended if such an element were to be permitted.
Several of the council members in attendance, though, agreed some form of action is needed.
"Some yards are like a junk yard," Ward 2 Councilman Ralph Cunningham said, pointing to a property on Powers Road where, he said, an older resident works to keep his property nice, while a neighbor has multiple vehicles, debris and other materials.
Harris pointed to several properties in the city’s downtown, as well as on Marland Heights, and Country Club Boulevard, as other examples.
It was noted, if any amendments are made to the ordinance, it would then be considered as a new first reading, which would then necessitate and additional reading before it can become effective.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)