JONES COUNTY
A few years ago, in the midst of COVID quarantines, overthe- road truck drivers were considered heroes for delivering needed supplies across the nation, but it appears things have changed.
The Jones County Board of Commissioners had a called work session Aug. 1 to discuss the issue of a truck driver who received a citation for parking his truck on his own property for the few days he is at home.
In Jones County, it is a violation to park a commercial vehicle on any lot occupied by a dwelling in a residential district as stated in Section 66 of the county code. The property in question is zoned agricultural residential.
A change to the ordinance was on the agenda for the July 28 meeting, but fearing possible repercussions from the change, the work session was scheduled. Nothing was resolved at the Aug. 1 work session, so another was scheduled.
Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski made several suggestions of ways to modify the text in the code. He also pointed out that the next co de section states that no commercial equipment over 10,000 pounds is allowed if there is a house on the property. That would include large pieces of agricultural equipment that would impact at least two of the commissioners.
One of Pitrowski’s suggestions was to allow one commercial vehicle per lot, but board members feared the scenario of a truck or large vehicle on every residential lot.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner said, after the July 18 meeting, he realized that he was in violation.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens said Jones County is a rural community, and people need a place to park their equipment, and Commissioner John Wood said there needed to be exemptions, such as for school buses.
Wood added that he did not want to hamper anyone’s business, but he did not want to open the door to a storage yard.
The petitioner requesting the text change said she could understand the complaint if the truck was not running or was an eyesore, but that was not the case. She said the truck in question costs $180,000. She went on to say that they were willing to pay to park the truck somewhere else in the county but could find no good options.
The petitioner also made the point that electrician, plumber trucks and school buses also weigh over 10,000 pounds.
The zoning office works on a reactive basis, which means most violations are the result of a complaint. The person who filed the complaint about the parking of the truck attended the meeting. He stated that to him the truck parked in the yard was an eyesore.
“I don’t care what’s on your acreage if I can’t see it,” the complainant said. “But property zoned agricultural doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with it.”
Another neighbor agreed that the road looks like a residential neighborhood because of the smaller lots.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn said she was personally aware of a bus driver who parked her school bus in her front yard in that same neighborhood for years without a complaint.
Pitrowski said an agricultural development allows residential development in two-acre lots.
Weidner suggested trucks and equipment be required to be parked behind the house, and Kitchens said he liked the idea of parking the vehicles out of sight, not in the front yard.
The petitioner was in agreement to parking the truck behind the house, but some trees would need to be moved. She noted that the way the truck was parked now was not easily seen from the road.
Kitchens said it is the commissioners’ responsibility to have ordinances that fit all situations.
“But I don’t want to get in the business of telling people what to do on their own property,” he said.
Wood suggested looking at ordinances from other counties and pull out what fits.
Commissioner Daylon Martin said he could talk about trucks parked on one-quarter acre lots in Kingsview Village. He said in his opinion the property owner should be able to park his truck in his yard.
“We don’t want a junk yard, but there’s a lot of concern over one truck,” he said.
Weidner said it would be difficult to make everyone happy. The commissioners agreed to look at ordinances of other counties and to have another work session about the issue.
The chairman said the citation would be put on hold without any penalties until a decision is made.
