LIMA — Lima City Council will consider multiple ordinances during Monday’s meeting concerning parking standards for vehicles within city limits, specifically aimed at keeping parked vehicles off grass.
Several sections of Lima’s city code will be considered for amendment requiring motor vehicles to be parked on hard surfaces “in compliance with standards on file with the city engineer,” according to a letter to the council from Deputy Law Director John Payne.
“The hard surface may be an existing driveway or an approved parking facility on the premises or within the tree lawn,” he wrote. “The legislation also requires that the newly constructed driveways and parking facilities conform to the new hard surface standards. Newly constructed driveways and parking facilities failing to conform to the new hard surface standards are declared nuisances and subject to abatement.”
These amendments come after examinations by the council’s Public Works Committee on the issue in November finding that vehicles parked on lawns can not only tear up grass but can also diminish property values.
“We want to keep our property values up by not having parking in yards and grass,” 1st Ward Councilman Todd Gordon said. “We agreed to put together an ordinance to regulate that, so when property owners want to add parking, they need to come in and get a permit so it can be seen if it is safe and if it will not cause problems with other property owners or have water runoff problems.”
The council will also vote on permitting the purchase of a $785,000 ladder truck for the Lima Fire Department to replace one purchased in 1993.
Lima City Council will meet at 7 p.m. in the Lima Municipal Building.
