BELLVILLE, Ohio – The Village of Bellville held a public hearing on March 17 to discuss a new parking ordinance which would ban parking in front yards inside the village’s R-1 residential business district.
Resident Ed Wilson spoke out against the ordinance, noting that he had five drivers in his household, with five cars and only room for two vehicles in his driveway.
“I don’t have much choice. I don’t have off-street parking. It’s either there or it gets parked on the road, period,” he said.
Wilson added that he hopes to put gravel in the yard for parking but that, due to budget restrictions, it could be some time before he had the funds to do so.
“I don’t like it any more than anyone else does,” said Wilson of parking in the front yard, “but it’s something we have to do.”
Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks assured Wilson his yard was not the reason for the ordinance.
“It sounds like you want to do what the ordinance says,” said Banks, “and I’m going to give you plenty of time to do that if this ordinance passes.”
Another resident ask that the ordinance be explained.
Former law director Jeff Mussman read the ordinance, noting it was prepared while he was still law director.
“No person shall park, nor shall any landowner, resident, or other person in control of a parcel in the R-1 residential business district allow a person to park a vehicle in the front yard except on an off-street parking area, like a garage or a driveway.
“Off-street parking areas, garages, and driveways must be placed in conformity with requirements of the zoning commission.
“The exceptions are: in places where this is no curb…you can park parallel to the street as long as you are not crossing a curb or sidewalk.”
Mussman added that exceptions for construction vehicles in use, utility vehicles, residents loading or unloading furniture were also written in the oridinance.
There were also exceptions noted for family gatherings if other parking is unavailable, and the street fair.
The penalty, noted Mussman, is the same as a parking ticket unless the resident is a repeat offender, in which case the resident could face a $250 fine and 30 days in jail, enforced in mayor’s court.
The ordinance passed unanimously.
Wilson later spoke in support of Banks during the village council meeting’s discussion of the reduction of the mayor’s salary. Wilson noted that Banks had taken time to listen to him when he expressed concern over the ordinance prior to the meeting.
