The question of truck parking in an area near downtown Gray was decided at its July meeting by Gray City Council members, albeit with a split vote.
The July 7 meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Ed Barbee, who also led the opening prayer. The pledge of allegiance was led by City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan.
All council members were present at the meeting.
During the Mayor’s report, Barbee thanked council members Ikea Simmons and David Tufts for attending the recent GMA Conference and attending training classes.
The first item on the agenda was the first reading of an ordinance about restrictions for trucks weighing in excess of 8,000 pounds on residential streets. The amendment was for Chapter 66, Article 1, Section 1 of the city’s code.
City Attorney John Newberry explained the amendment was to add Howard Court and Capps Drive to that section of the code. The second reading and the adoption of the ordinance amendment is scheduled for the Aug. 3 meeting.
Newberry said the streets were not included on the original ordinance.
Council members heard from Planning and Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski next to clarify that truck parking was not allowed in C-2 General Commercial Zoning without a variance.
This was due to an item that came before council in their June meeting. Matthew Billings, the owner of the property located at 133 James Street, requested a variance to allow the parking of two to four tractor trailers on the property.
Mayor Pro Tem James Collins questioned what was allowed in the C-2 zoning and wanted clarification from Pitrowski, who was not at the June meeting. The zoning officer said the only way the truck parking could be permitted on the property was a variance in the current C-2 zoning or for the property to be rezoned industrial.
Collins read a letter received from the Gray Downtown Development Authority stating the truck parking was not a good fit for the downtown area and could set a precedent. The letter asked for the requirement of a buffer if the parking was approved.
Collins asked Billings how long the drivers would need to find another place to park if the variance was denied. The owner said at least 30 days.
One resident came forward to speak on behalf of allowing the truck parking. She said the parked trucks could not be seen from Butler Hall, and the drivers need a place to park their trucks.
Collins made a motion to deny the variance but to give the drivers 60 days to find alternate parking.
After the motion received a second, Simmons stated he did not see the problem with the trucks being allowed to park in the lot. The property consists of two acres with 180 feet of frontage. The drivers who park there are local residents who park there to keep from driving on smaller neighborhood roads.
With no more comments, the mayor called for a vote. The motion to deny the variance was approved 4-1 with Simmons opposed.
Council members unanimously approved an agreement to allow the mayor to execute an agreement with Goebel Media Group to work on the city’s website and a resolution to approve a budget supplement for LMIG funds.
The final agenda item was another resolution to approve a budget amendment for the Gray Fire Department to include the $500 inspection fee received for the fireworks stand, which was also unanimously approved.
With no more business, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the city council is its All Committees meeting July 20 held at the Gray/Jones County Business Development Center at 6 p.m. located at 102 E. Clinton Street.
