Parking!

Date: May 22, 2007

Parking!

dhyson · Webmaster

Thanks for sharing your comments; I can certainly understand about how busy schedules can keep you away from meetings. Using this medium of communication can certainly help to share ideas and solutions, thanks for using it.

I too agree that parked cars in the street lowers the home value. I will forward your concern to the CNA officers. Since we are not a bona-fide home owners association, we cannot mandate a Creekside resident to do anything that doesn't violate the City of Pflugerville's ordinances. We can communicate to them the concern and offer solutions. Concerning the use of the garage, I agree it would be quite helpful if more of our neighbors used their garages for their automobiles. I was thinking, what if all the cars parked in the street were high end vehicles like Lexus, Jaguar, Mercedes, etc., I wonder if the value would still go down?(smile).

Anyway, thanks for your comments. I usually don't approve anonymous postings, but this is relevant and can affect our street in a positive way. Thanks again and hope to meet you one day neighbor.

Mendl404 · Member

Hello,
Well I posted the above comments regarding parking. I was frustrated and didn't have time to do all the log in and registration info at that time. As you can see I am just now getting back to it.... A neighbor across the street parks directly across from my driveway and owns a pickup and trailor that he uses for work. I would like to ask him to not park there but am not sure how to approach him. They are renting their home so I am sure it isn't a concern to him. He brings his work vehicle home with him now. He has just started doing this in the last couple of weeks. He already has a vehicle parked on the street and they are the only two north of Noton. He could easily back it into his driveway and unhook but I am sure the ease of leaving it on the street is probably going to be the norm now. Have any suggestions?

Crystal Mendl

dhyson · Webmaster

Hello Crystal,
Nice to meet you neighbor. Well, this doesnt' sound like a Mercedes is parked out front there (smile). Just making light humor. Ok, well by law or city ordinance, a person can park a vehicle in front of their home. So, the police can't be called for assistance unless it is broken down or abandoned. I certainly can understand the hesitation in approaching someone about their home or how they manage their home. It sounds like the problem is that this work vehicle and the trailer attached behind it is an eye-sore, makes our street look bad and cluttered, and could even make it hard to drive around or park in your driveway at times.
I would send a letter by mail making the request to please consider keeping the street as clear as possible by parking in the driveway. I would put a concerned neighbor for the return address to prevent conflict. Of course if they are reading this blog, then they will know who it is, then that may open the opportunity for tea perhaps (smile). There is no way to confirm who sent the letter, but hopefully the request would be considered and at least the request and concern would be communicated.
There is not much we can do other than asking them asking them nicely face to face, and if they decide not to, then that will be one of those situations in life when you make lemons out of lemonade and be thankful they are not parking it in front of your house. Now I could go over there as the block captain and demand that they work with us and move their vehicle in the driveway or place a note on their door that says Dear neighbor, your vehicle and trailer are bringing our property value down and makes our street look bad, so please move your trailer in the driveway, but that would probably not go over too well. I really wish we could enforce neighbors parking in the driveway to keep our streets clear, especially when there is room to park in the driveway. All we can do is ask folks to consider doing all they can to keep our street looking nice, safe, and well kept unless a city ordinance is violated.

Not sure if this helps any, but I wanted to at least respond with a suggestion or two and mention what the law has to say about it as well. Thanks for posting.

Mendl404 · Member

Thanks for the advice. I will take all of that into consideration when I decide to approach him. It may be a pleasant conversation that I have been worried about. We will see. On the other hand, South of Noton is speckled with cars all along the street. Has this been put into the Creekside newsletter? Have we encouraged residents to park in their diveways. Maybe we should add a blurb about what brings our home value down even if it has been addressed before, a reminder can't hurt. Just a thought.
Also, can a neighborhood establish a homeowners association once a neighborhood has been established?

dhyson · Webmaster

I have mentioned this to the CNA Officers and a note will be put in the next CNA Newsletter about this.

That is a good question about association establishment, I will pass this one along to the officers and let you know what they say. Thank you again for helping us to have a better neighborhood.

Mendl404 · Member

Thanks. I will try and get to the next meeting. I am out for the summer, turns out I am taking a class online. Seems like developing a neighborhood association would have to go through a process with the City of Pflugerville. It will be interesting to find out.

dhyson · Webmaster

Hey there Crystal,
We have some great officers in our neighborhood association. I already received a reply in regard to your questions and concerns. Hopefully more nieghbors will utilize this tool and our association as well. Below is some helpful information:

About eight years ago, we had a meeting about whether we wanted to become a managed Home Owners Association instead of a Neighborhood Association. While some people were in favor of becoming an HOA, most of the people at the meeting (standing room only! ;) seemed against it.

To reinstate deed restrictions--or become an HOA, my understanding is we would have to have more than 50% of the owners agree. Anyone who doesn't agree wouldn't have to follow them or join the HOA until/unless they sell their house. All new buyers would be given deed restrictions and have join the HOA. City ordinances cover many issues anyway.

It looks to me like the City's Traffic Code restricts parking trailers overnight on the street (Title VII, Chapter 71.) You can call the City about the work trailer. I suggest calling the police about the trailer on Geyser--when it's there!

Below is a portion of the traffic code. I suggest everyone read the other ordinances too--especially TITLE IX: GENERAL REGULATIONS which deals with 92. HEALTH AND SANITATION and 93. JUNKED VEHICLES, 94. NOISE CONTROL, 95. PARKS AND RECREATION, 96. STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, 97. ALARMS. http://www.cityofpflugerville.com/index.asp?NID=316

I agree that neighborhood aesthetics--street parking, storage of boats/trailers, yard maintenance, etc. are all important items or should be to us all. It does affect all of our property values.

Here's a portion of the traffic code:

TITLE VII: TRAFFIC CODE
Chapter

70. TRAFFIC RULES

71. PARKING REGULATIONS
72. TRAFFIC SCHEDULES
73. PARKING ENFORCEMENT

CHAPTER 71: PARKING REGULATIONS

Section
71.01 Designated parking spaces for disabled persons
71.02 On-street parking of certain vehicles prohibited; exceptions
71.03 Parking of vehicles used in business for certain length of time

71.99 Penalty

§ 71.02 ON-STREET PARKING OF CERTAIN VEHICLES PROHIBITED;

EXCEPTIONS.
(A) Except as provided in division (B) below, it shall be unlawful for any person to park
or permit, or cause to be placed, stored, or parked on any street, alley or sidewalk within the city:
(1) Any vehicle with a gross vehicular weight in excess of 9,000 pounds, as
determined by the motor vehicle registration records of the State of Texas;
(2) Any vehicle that exceeds 20 linear feet in length;
(3) Any trailer, semi-trailer, boat trailer, trailer house, or other non-motorized
device or equipment designed or intended to be towed upon the public streets by means of
attachment to a motor vehicle or other self-propelled vehicle or equipment; or
(4) Any self-propelled motor home or other motor vehicle containing
permanently installed sleeping facilities or human sanitary treatment or disposal facilities or both.

TRAFFIC CODE -10- PARKING REGULATIONS

Revised 9/3/03
(B) Division (A) above shall not apply to:
(1) Vehicles actively engaged in service or delivery functions for the period of
time actually engaged in the service or delivery activity;
(2) Publicly owned or franchised emergency vehicles required by municipal,
state or publicly franchised utility departments to be taken home by its on-call employees charged
with making emergency utility service repairs;
(3) Major recreational equipment, as defined in the zoning ordinance of the city,
which is:
(a) Being loaded, unloaded, or otherwise prepared for use or storage
during a period of time which does not exceed 24 hours; or
(b) Being used for human occupancy for a period of time which does not

exceed 24 hours; provided, however, that the Chief of Police or his designee, shall be authorized to grant extensions to such 24-hour limitation, not to exceed five days in any 30-day period, upon a finding of good cause shown;
(4) Trailers or other similar vehicles which are being held or used for purposes of participating in any city-sponsored parade, festival, or related activity during the period of time commencing 48 hours prior to such activity, and ending 24 hours after such activity; or (5) A trailer having load weight carrying capacity of 3,000 pounds or less during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

(Ord. 382-93-06-22, passed 6-22-93) Penalty, see § 71.99

§ 71.03 PARKING OF VEHICLES USED IN BUSINESS FOR CERTAIN LENGTH OF TIME.

It shall be unlawful for the owner, agent or employee of any trade or business, including but not limited to any service station, garage, repair shop, manufacturer, or store, to permit, or cause to be placed, stored or parked on any street, alley or sidewalk in any residential area of the city more
than one automobile, truck, trailer, or other vehicle held for use in connection with such trade or business while the same is awaiting being used, or after it has been used, or for the purpose of exhibiting the same for sale, for any period in excess of one hour. The foregoing shall not apply to
vehicles actively engaged in service or delivery functions for the period of time actually engaged in the service or delivery activity and shall not apply to any personal automobile or other personal vehicle temporarily parked at the curb while awaiting the personal use of the owner or user.

(Ord. 382-93-06-22, passed 6-22-93) Penalty, see § 71.99

§ 71.99 PENALTY.

(A) Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of § 71.01 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be fined in an amount not to exceed $200.

(Ord. 273-88-02-09, passed 2-9-88)

Revised 9/3/03

Mendl404 · Member

Thanks for following up on this. I will call the Police Dept so I will not have to get involved. I have a feeling if he actually parks it in his driveway, he will just replace it with his truck, which I guess is better than a trailor. I do think it would be a good time to bring up the HOA again. It has been 8 years and Geyser alone has had a lot of real estate action. Our neighborhood has experienced some burgularies which is uncomforting. If our neighborhood didn't have cars parked all along the street it wouldn't seem like a lower end neighborhood and theives wouldn't hit it as much. Well, that is my opinion anyway. I think there are a lot of reasons why homeowners on Geyser should consider it. Do we know when the next meeting is scheduled?