On April 22, Groveport City Council postponed indefinitely action on an ordinance to revise restrictions on heavy trucks that park in the city’s residential areas. The postponement was made to allow more time for city officials to further research the matter.
Mayor Lance Westcamp appointed a committee consisting of council members Shawn Cleary and Ed Dildine as well as Groveport Police Capt. Kurt Blevins and Sgt. Casey Adams to conduct the research.
The current city law prohibits trucks, tractors, or trailers with an empty gross vehicle weight of 2.5 tons (5,000 pounds) from parking in residential areas after 6 p.m or before 7 a.m., except for deliveries of goods and materials. The restriction makes no distinction between parking such vehicles on the street or driveway, it just reads “residential areas.”
One proposed change to the ordinance would raise the restricted empty gross vehicle weight limit to 4.5 tons (9,000 pounds).
Groveport Law Director Kevin Shannon said the proposed revision to the law arose because of problems with some large vehicles parking in multiple city neighborhoods. He said the big trucks block the streets causing traffic congestion and making it difficult for emergency vehicles to get through.
Shannon said the current law, as it is currently written, is causing enforcement problems because there are SUVs, some pick-up trucks, and vehicles such as Escalades that are over the weight limit.
Dildine has suggested the gross vehicle weight limit be revised upward in the legislation.
