It will be a code violation to park a boat or trailer in front of a residence for more than 24 hours if the Little Rock Board of Directors approves a code change recommended by city staff.
The city’s Planning and Development Department is asking for an amendment to city regulations in response to residents’ complaints, department Director Tony Bozynski said Tuesday.
The proposed amendment would prohibit people from parking boats, boat trailers or camping trailers on the street in front of their homes for an extended period of time.
The city’s “Parking in Yards” code — Chapter 36, Section 513 — already regulates the parking of motor vehicles in yards. The term “motor vehicle” refers to passenger vehicles, trucks, boats, campers, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, golf carts, all-terrain vehicles, trailers and other similar vehicles.
If approved by the board next week, a new subsection would be added to prohibit boats, trailers and campers from being stored or parked in the public right-of-way on a street longer than 24 hours.
“This does not include motorized or self-propelled recreational vehicles,” the suggested ordinance reads.
The public right-of-way is the portion of a yard located between the pavement of the street and a strip of ground parallel to the house.
City code already restricts the parking of vehicles in yards to a paved surface or unpaved designated driveway area or parking pad that is surfaced with gravel or a similar hard-packed material. There are exception for football games, private parties and holidays.
“The current Parking in Yards code doesn’t address the parking of vehicles in the street itself,” Zoning Manager Dana Carney said. “By adding this small amendment, it will allow us to address those instances where those people park their boat, boat trailers and campers in the street for longer than 24 hours.”
The Planning and Development Department notified 44 neighborhood coalitions, design professionals, Realtors and other interested parties. The Department received one positive response from the League of Women Voters and no negative feedback.
Both the Plans Committee and the city Planning Commission have reviewed the proposal and voted to recommend that the city directors approve it.
The Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on the item at its meeting next week — 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
The item was listed on the board’s planning agenda this week for discussion. Two city directors indicated support for the ordinance, while others didn’t make a public comment.