BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — The proposed parking ordinance for the Borough of Brookville will remain just that.
Council opted to table the ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting after a number of residents voiced their concerns about certain parts of it.
Sandy Snyder had questions about the part of the ordinance that says parking is not allowed in the front yard of a residence unless it is on an improved surface.
“I have two cars in my front yard, does that mean I’m in violation?” Snyder said. “I bought that car, I bought that land, I pay the taxes on the land, but I can’t park my cars there.”
Borough solicitor Jim Dennison explained that there are certain considerations, such as aesthetics.
“Many boroughs have this type of ordinance, you don’t want to have mud bogs in the front yard, it reduces the property values and there is an issue with parking in town,” Dennison said.
Police Chief Jason Brown also explained some of the reasoning behind that specific part of the ordinance.
“One reason is that utility lines are often buried in the front yard and if a vehicle is parked in an area long enough and creates a hole there could be a situation where water and electric lines are affected and then they have to be dug up and that gets the borough involved and that costs money.
Brown also explained that the parking surface does not have to be paved.
“It can be stone or gravel, it doesn’t have to be paved,” Brown said.
Another resident, Frank Rosman, asked about whether parking his boat in a side yard would be a violation.
Brown assured him it wouldn’t be.
Snyder was concerned that with the new ordinance, certain people may be singled out.
“We’re not singling people out,” Brown said. “Our officers will use common sense and discretion in issuing tickets.”
Brown also explained that there would be a grace period after the ordinance was approved and he said everyone understand that it wasn’t reasonable for people to do anything with creating an improved surface.”
“We haven’t even decided how long that would be. It could be 45 days, it could be 90 days. It’s something we still have yet to determine.”
When the residents had spoken, it prompted council member Karen Allgeier to make a motion to table the ordinance until resident had more time to digest the ordinance and understand what it meant.
Council President Pro-Tem Bill Kutz seconded the motion and council voted to table it. Council member Clarinda Darr voted against it.
Council member Steve Hoak, who earlier had resigned his seat since he has relocated to Louisville, Ky. to open an insurance agency there, said he hoped that council wouldn’t let the ordinance die without approving it.
“A lot of work went into this and there are things that needed to be addressed and I believe we did. I hope it is approved,” Hoak said.
The next chance for adoption of the parking ordinance will be the next meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 3.
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