Drivers may soon have to be a little more careful about how close they park to a driveway — commercial or residential — in the City of Owensboro.
City Manager Nate Pagan said that the state has restrictions on parking directly in front of driveways. Now, after complaints from residents, Commissioners have a chance to extend that restriction to 5 feet from the edge of a driveway.
“We’ve received several complaints about vehicles parking at the very edge or corner of a driveway. In this scenario, the driveway isn’t blocked as prohibited in state law. However, motorists have had difficulty accessing in or out driveways because cars are parked so close to the corner,” Pagan said.
If approved, the ordinance would read that “No person shall stop, stand or park” a vehicle within 5 feet of any driveway within city limits.
Because Commissioners heard the first reading of the ordinance amendment Tuesday, no action was taken. A vote on whether to approve the amendment will take place during their meeting on February 7.
Pagan said if approved, he does not anticipate the curbs throughout town to be marked — meaning drivers will have to self-assess if they are in violation of the ordinance.
However, Pagan said the ordinance would provide some type of enforceable action should there be a vehicle operator in violation that refuses to move or causes difficulty parking for other drivers.
Pagan also noted that ordinance also limits parking in other areas — such as on crosswalks, in intersections, 10 feet of a fire hydrant or mail box, and more.
