NLR sees gaps in outdoor-storage rule

North Little Rock City Council members heard public comments Monday evening on a proposal for new outdoor storage regulations, but acknowledged that how the city would cover and enforce every possible situation is still a struggle to determine.

Aldermen didn't vote Monday on the new regulations and will take up the issue again at their next meeting July 28.

The ordinance, if approved, would amend city code to prohibit furniture and other items that were manufactured for indoor use from being kept outside on porches and carports or in and yards. Having appliances outside would also be prohibited, except for having a refrigerator or freezer that is in use under a covered carport.

Alderman Debi Ross, a co-sponsor with Alderman Steve Baxter, said that the legislation still needs to clarify how to regulate the storage of boxes and other items on a carport or in yards, and for regulating temporary uses, such as when someone is refinishing a piece of furniture outside.

Recommendations included in the legislation came from a city task force.

"It's not just about furniture on carports," Ross said. "We want to get all the junk out of yards."

Baxter said that the issue to him is more about safety and health than appearances.

"There is stuff that can be stored in your carport that is not a detriment to your neighbor," he said.

Alderman Charlie Hight said that the problem isn't with people, for example, temporarily having an old dining table outside to paint it.

"It's people who are putting couches and sofas and beds outside," Hight said, giving an example of a residence that he said regularly has furniture stacked up in the home's driveway. "It's an eyesore to drive by."

Residents who commented during the meeting focused on neighbors who "use their carport as a dump" and drive down surrounding property values and a neighborhood's appearance.

Zoe Rossi showed the City Council photos of a neighbor's driveway that she said regularly contains a trailer filled with furniture and other items.

"It's a nice house but it's ruined with all of this junk," Rossi said of the neighbor's house. "We really consider this a nuisance in our neighborhood."

Jason Henry said that he has talked with his neighbors about others who use their yards and carports for storing "their piles of junk."

"Over the years we've noticed a dramatic decline in the appearance of our neighborhood," Henry said. "They can't even park in their driveway any longer because of it. I'd like to see my property value appreciate and not depreciate."

Alderman Beth White asked that if the legislation is passed that the city include a "strong education program" about the regulations and also provide a length of time to allow people to clean up their yards and carports.

Mayor Joe Smith said that the proposal still doesn't determine the enforcement procedures for city Code Enforcement Division officers to follow and how specific the city should be in listing what items would be prohibited.

"It's about what's OK and what's not OK," Smith said. "These are the things we're trying to get right and you see the struggles we're trying to work through. We're looking for that one more tool we need to clean up our neighborhoods."

Metro on 07/15/2014

Upcoming Events