Elgin parking ban worries workers

ELGIN -- A recently passed ordinance that bars parking large commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods, has raised concerns by some who feel it has the potential to negatively affect local business owners.

The Elgin City Council voted unanimously in favor of the measure on July 23, which prohibits trucks and transport vehicles weighing more than 8,000 pounds from parking along residential streets and driveways.

Mayor Ed Schock said Wednesday action was taken in response to what he described as a matter of both preserving neighborhood aesthetics, as well as ensuring traffic was not impeded along narrower roads.

"When you live in a residential area you don't expect large commercial vehicles to be parked there every night and every weekend -- it's not a commercial area," he said. "The city streets should not be parking lots for commercial enterprises, those vehicles should be parked at the businesses."

Schock said the ban is intended to focus on large vehicles that are typically company-owned, where the business can incur the expense of maintaining their storage.

He said the law exempts smaller, self-employed individuals who may drive a van or a pickup truck for business as well as personal use.

"It's taking that self-employed guy out of the picture because they get to keep their pickup truck or van," he said.

Despite its intent, some say the ordinance will undoubtedly translate into higher expenses.

Sean Mcguigan, a manager for A1 Mullins Plumbing and Sewer Repairs, in Elgin, said he has at times taken his truck home for the night in order to quickly respond to late night service calls. Under the new regulations, his truck would be one of those now penalized.

"All of a sudden I'm getting a parking ticket for just trying to do my job," he said. "I think Elgin is trying to legislate itself out of business.

For truck driver Scott Richardson, the new ordinance means he will have to a new place to park the cab of his semitrailer when he returns from making a delivery.

He said not being able to park at home means the added expense of renting a parking space for his truck plus the greater risk of having it burglarized.

"If somebody sees you taking all of your stuff out of a semi tractor, they know you're not going to be back in an hour or two, and they'll pick it clean," he said. "I've seen it happen and I've had it happen."

Richardson said problems with trucks on streets could be handled on a case-by-case basis, or by instituting general parking bans during snowfalls in order for plows to pass.

Councilman David Kaptain said he had reservations regarding the ordinance's ban on vehicles in private driveways, even though he voted in favor of the measure.

He said he would be willing to re-examine the law depending on how people were affected.

"I think you have to look at exceptions and sometimes you have to go back and see how you impact people," he said. "I think we would have to see how many people are impacted by this."

Despite any concerns, Kaptain, Schock and Councilman John Steffen all said feedback about the ban so far has been resoundingly positive from residents.

Violations will carry a fine of $50. Trucks and vans will be allowed to be parked along driveways between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in order to do work at a home or to make deliveries. Vehicles will be cited if they obstruct the sidewalk while parked in a driveway.