P&Z Commission Proposal Would Eliminate Parking in Front Yards

By Gordon HopkinsAfter considerable debate, the Fairbury Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve proposed changes to parking ordinances that would prohibit parking in front yards in the city limits, except on an improved surface.The Planning and Zoning Commission does not have the authority to change ordinances but only make recommendations. That recommendation will then go to the Fairbury City Council, which will decide whether or not to enact the proposed changes. This proposal, in one form or another, has been under consideration for more than a year. The commission met Monday, September 8, to discuss the most recent changes to the proposal.Development Services Director Laura Bedlan said at the meeting, “So, at the last meeting, the committee had requested that we review this with the attorney again and only make it specific to front yards and to clarify the surfaces, which we did.” The proposed amendment to § 72.20 of the Fairbury Municipal Code reads, “No motor vehicle shall be parked or stored in the front yard, or adjacent right-of-way, of any residential use lot except on an improved surface driveway or other improved surface.” The amendment also defines improved surface, “For purposes of this section, ‘improved surface’ shall mean a hard surface area maintained with materials, including, but not limited to, concrete, pavement, asphalt, brick, or gravel, sufficient to prevent mud, dust, or loose debris.”Commission member Kathy Klein asked about residents who park on the front yard rather than in the street because they are physically unable to walk from the curb to the front door, “So, what do you do for a case like that? Can we have an exception, or are exceptions bad?” Bedlan responded, “Well, we do make exceptions for people with handicap permits on a lot of things.”The Fairbury City Council will be voting on the proposed ordinance on Tuesday, September 16, at 7:30 p.m.

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